Welfare Of Children And Disposal Of The Matrimonial Property Upon Divorce: A Legal Analysis

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 1

1.2 BACKGROUND TO STUDY .................................................................................................... 1

1.3 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM .................................................................................................. 5

1.4 RESEARCH AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ................................................................................ 6

1.5 METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................................................... 6

1.6 JUSTIFICATION ........................................................................................................................ 7

1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY ................................................................................................. 8

1.8 SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTERS .................................................................................................... 9

CHAPTER 2 ........................................................................................................................................ 11

LEGAL REGIME GORVENING THE DISPOSAL OF MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY IN ZIMBABWE AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH DISPOSAL ON CHILDREN ........... 11

2.1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 11

2.2 WHAT IS MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY? ............................................................................. 11

2.3 WIDE DISCRETIONARY POWERS OF THE COURTS ................................................... 12

2.4 THE MATRIMONIAL HOME ON DIVORCE ........................................................................ 14

2.5 COURTS EMPHASIS ON “RESOURCES” THAN “NEEDS” ............................................ 17

2.6 CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................... 18

CHAPTER 3 ........................................................................................................................................ 20

THE CONSTITUTIONAL IMPLICATIONS ON MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY AND PROTECTION OF THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN UPON DIVORCE ............................ 20

3.1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 20

3.2 CONSTITUTIONAL SUPREMACY ....................................................................................... 20

3.3 THE “PARAMOUNTCY” PRINCIPLE ................................................................................... 20

3.4 THE CONSTITUTION‟S FAILURE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT OF THE REALITIES ...................................................................................................................................... 22

3.5 RIGHT TO SHELTER ............................................................................................................. 23

3.6 NECESSARY PROTECTION OF CHILDREN IN THE EVENT OF A DIVORCE .......... 25

3.7 DISCRIMINATION ................................................................................................................... 26

3.8 INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENTS ...................................................... 27

3.9 ANALYSIS OF CASES THAT WERE DECIDED AFTER THE CONSTITUTION ......... 27

3.10 CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................................... 28

CHAPTER 4 ........................................................................................................................................ 29

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS: ZIMBABWEAN DIVORCE LAW FRAMEWORK AS IT RELATES TO CHILDREN UPON THE DIVISION OF MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY IN LIGHT OF ZAMBIA, KENYA AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ................................ 29

4.1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 29

4.2 FIRST CONSIDERATION TO THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN ...................................... 29

4.3 SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CHILDREN BEFORE A DIVORCE IS FINALISED ...................................................................................................................................... 31

4.4 PROTECTION OF THE MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY IN PARTICULAR THE MATRIMONIAL HOME UPON DIVORCE .................................................................................. 32

4.5 CONSIDERATION OF THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN “ONLY” AT INFANCY ........... 35

4.6 DISCRIMINATION ................................................................................................................... 36

4.7 ROLE OF THE CUSTODIAL PARENT ................................................................................ 37

4.8 CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................................... 38

CHAPTER 5 ........................................................................................................................................ 40

SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................................. 40

5.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 40

5.2 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ................................................................................................. 40

5.3 LEGAL REGIME GORVENING THE DISPOSAL OF MATRIMONIAL PROPERTY 40

5.4 CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS ON THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN IN RELATION TO A HOME IN PARTICULAR THE RIGHT TO SHELTER ................................................ 41

5.5 STANDARDS OF BEST PRACTICE FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS .................... 42

5.6 RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................................................... 43

5.7 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................... 47

BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................................. 49