MARRIAGES

PROCEDURE ON SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES UNDER THE STATUTORY LAW (Marriage Act)

INTRODUCTION

• The Marriage Act, Chapter 50 of the Laws of Zambia is currently the piece of legislation that prescribes the conduct of marriages in the country.
• Lusaka City Council, like any other Council in Zambia, is charged with the function of Registration of Marriages in the District on behalf of the Registrar-General of Marriages appointed by the Minister under the provisions of Section 4 of the Marriage Act, Chapter 50 of the Laws of Zambia.
• The Town Clerk, as Chief Executive Officer, appoints staff to serve as Registrar of Marriages from time to time.

NOTICE OF MARRIAGE

Persons to be married under the Statutory Law should either give minimum period of twenty-one (21) days notice or Fourteen (14) days notice to the Registrar of Marriages before the date of Solemnisation of marriage.

REGISTRATION FOR A MARRIAGE

• Section 6 of the Marriage Act, Chapter 50 of the Laws of Zambia provides, among other things, that persons intending to marry are required to give notice to the Registrar of not less than twenty-one (21) days before the date of solemnization of marriage.
• If for any reason, persons intending to marry are unable to give notice of twenty-one (21) days or more, a minimum period of not less than fourteen (14) days notice shall be considered during the registration process.
• Section 17 of the Marriage Act, Chapter 50 of the Laws of Zambia provides, among other things, that persons below twenty-one (21) years old are required to obtain a written consent (letter) from their parents or guardians giving consent to the marriage.
• Persons who are divorced are required to produce the “Divorce Certificate”.
• The following fees and charges are payable during the application process:-

FEES FOR ZAMBIAN CITIZENS

FEES FOR NON-ZAMBIAN CITIZENS

• Duly completed Application Forms should be accompanied with the following documents:-
  1. Photocopy of the receipt showing payment made to Lusaka City Council.
  2. Photocopy of either the Passport or National Registration Card or Driving license for the man and woman intending to get married.
  3. Letter from the parents or guardians giving consent to the marriage, if below the age of twenty-one (21) years old.
  4. Copy of the Divorce Certificate, if divorced.
• Note that the Application Form should be filled-in with the correct NAMES (of the man, woman, witness for the man and witness for the woman) that should appear on the Certificate of Marriage to avoid corrections. Two (2) names for the witnesses should be written to allow for any one of them to be absent during the solemnization of the marriage.
• It is advisable that persons intending to marry at Civic Centre come to see any of the Assistant Registrars of Marriages at Lusaka City Council, Room 216 Old Wing, Civic Centre, Lusaka to make confirmation of their marriage at least a day before the marriage is solemnized.

APPLICATION FOR FORM C

• If the marriage is to take place at a Church which is duly gazetted for solemnization of marriages, a Form C will be issued to the persons intending to marry.
• The Registrar of Marriages at Lusaka City Council will only issue the Form C to any licensed (Gazetted) place of worship (Church) with a licensed (Gazetted) Minister (Reverend/Pastor/Priest) under the provisions of the Marriage Act, Chapter 50 of the Laws of Zambia.
• Couples should ensure that the Church gives them two types of marriage certificates where possible i.e., one issued by the Church itself and the other one issued either at Civic Centre or the Church (Republic of Zambia).
• The couples are required to submit the Duplicate copy of the Marriage Certificate (Republic of Zambia) to Lusaka City Council, Room 216 old wing, Civic Centre two (2) weeks after the wedding ceremony.

DAYS FOR COLLECTION OF THE FORM C

• Collection of the Form C, if the marriage will take place at the place of worship (Church), is during working days and hours (i.e. Monday to Friday).

APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL LICENCE

• Persons who intend to marry outside Civic Centre OR place of Worship (Church) are required to apply for issuance of a Special license to the Town Clerk in accordance with the provisions of Section 12 of the Marriage Act, Chapter 50 of the Laws of Zambia by clearly stating the venue, date, time for the marriage ceremony and also the services of a Registrar of Marriages from Lusaka City Council OR stating a Gazetted Minister of Religion to solemnize the marriage.
• A nominal fee will be charged for issuance of a Special License.

APPLICATION FOR GAZETTING OF THE PLACE OF WORSHIP (CHURCH) AND A MINISTER OF RELIGION (REVEREND/PASTOR/PRIEST)

• The Church administration is required to apply to the Town Clerk for gazetting of the place of worship (Church) for purposes of solemnizing marriages. A nominal fee of K402.93 will be charged for this purpose.
• The Church administration is also required to apply to the Town Clerk for gazetting of a Minister of Religion (Reverend/Pastor/Priest) recommended for solemnization of marriages in Zambia by attaching copies of the Curriculum Vitae, Academic Certificates, Green National Registration Card and Ordination Certificates to the application. A nominal fee of K161.05 will be charged for this purpose
• The Town Clerk will, in turn, write to the Government Printer requesting for gazetting of the place of worship (Church) and/or the Minister of Religion (Reverend/ Pastor/ Priest).

DAYS AND TIME FOR SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES AT CIVIC CENTRE

• Lusaka City Council has designated the following days for solemnization of marriages:-MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, FRIDAYS, SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS (From 10:00 hours on a “first come basis”).

DRESS CODE

• Strictly formal dress: NO SLIPPERS, NO T-SHIRTS and NO JEANS.
• Preferably WEDDING DRESS for the Bride and a SUIT for the Groom.
• OR Traditional attire for the BRIDE and GROOM.

RESTRICTIONS DURING THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY

• All Cell phones (Mobile Phones) must be off or put on silent mode.
• No noise is allowed during the marriage ceremony. Only Clapping of hands and ululation (wailing) is allowed.

Lusaka City Council Marriage Registrars

DESK OFFICERS (ROOM 216, old wing)