A couple. [Photo/BuzzKenya]
“When are we meeting our in-law? Your cousin will be walking down the aisle this weekend, you should be next.” Well, as much as the decision to get married is personal, there are other interested parties
Unmarried couples in Burundi have until December to legalize their unions or face legal consequences. This is according to a law signed by President Pierre Nkurunziza in May, this year that requires unwed couples to legalize their unions in church or through the state.
It’s a move the government considers a way of ‘moralising’ the society. But whether it’s the risk of jail terms like in the case of Burundi or incessant parents who constantly throw hints on the need to settle down, the pressure to marry is real.
Much as the decision is personal, there are other interested parties such as the state, parents or friends who may want to influence the manner and pace at which it is done.
The State steps in to protect the institution through laws and provisions to guide how it is conducted. Even though marriage is a mutual relationship between two people, it goes beyond that and affects families, clans and subsequently the State.
From marriage comes family and that’s the basis of a society. Marriage is a source of pride and joy to the society. In an ideal situation, marriage is significant in promoting morality by preventing vices such as premarital sex. That only happens if those in marriage abide by what is expected of them. Parents would also want their children to get married because it’s the expectation of the society to do so.
They feel that since marriage comes with certain responsibilities, it will help their children become more settled and focused.
Children born within the context of a marriage are considered as a status symbol by their grandparents. Even with the recognition of the sanctity and importance of marriage, it remains to be mutual and individuals should be given room to make that decision without coercion.