Introduction

The ailing global economy, coupled with the high unemployment rate, is alleged to be turning into more of a thorn in the flesh than a blessing to the young people in Zimbabwe, hampering their hopes in their pursuit of settling down maritally, as bride prices keep going up with time.

The Cultural set up 

In Zimbabwe, the culture across all tribes and cultural settings is that one is recognized to have been married upon payment of bride price – roora / lobola/ amalobolo, which is in the form of cattle or cash (usually from $3, 000 to around $10, 000) as it is in today’s era, aside a list of groceries and buying clothes for parents’ in-law.  Zero payment towards lobola renders one not married even if you can be living together with the woman and having children of your own. 

In 2017, The Global Press Journal carried out an article in which one Paddington Khumalo was cited to have been regarded as not yet married despite living with the mother of his 3-year-old daughter for 5 years then, all because he could not afford the six-head of cattle or $3, 000 cash option he was charged by the woman’s family as bride price.

Economic situation and unemployment rate

Just like most African Countries, Zimbabwe’s economy is presently not very favourable and her unemployment rate, is also a point of concern to young people, making it even more difficult for them to raise supposed huge amounts like $3, 000 and above to gift a woman’s family as a token of appreciation in the fulfilment of the cultural demand of marriage. At the end of the day, an already struggling young man would see it as a great mountain to climb for him to be properly married, in an acceptable cultural way. 

Better option?

With these high-priced charges, many young people are believed to be deliberately opting for pregnancy before paying lobola as this, in most cases, makes you stay with the lady upon being charged damages, with the agreement of settling lobola at a later time. Consequently, this puts you in Khumalo’s situation, where you are not regarded as married, even if you have children in your home. In all this, the question remains, how best can a young man be helped? 

Conclusion

When all is said and done, what remains of a young man in Zimbabwe is an option to work hard and raise what is required of him if he is to have his dream of having his own family turn into a reality, otherwise, as it is, it would be a fantasy to think that lobola prices might go down, more-so with the rising living standards.