The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has said growth of social media and globalisation are some of the factors that are fueling the increase of divorce cases in the country.
Speaking on the sidelines of a day-long Christian Family Movement annual general meeting in Lilongwe on Saturday, ECM national pastoral secretary Reverend Father Emmanuel Chimombo said concerted efforts are needed from many sectors to save marriages.
He also said the family is under great threat because society is disassociating the teaching of the Bible, which is believed to be God’s word for humanity.
Said Chimombo: “Not long ago, the Bible and God was the basis of most marriages; but now things are different because humanity wants to take God out of the family. Even families that are stable are also under attack by external forces.
“The emergence of social media and the fact that most young people are learning things from their friends have led to the increase in divorce cases even where the reasons are flimsy.”
He said without family, the church as well as the nation cannot develop, noting that stable families make productive citizens.
His observations come at a time when courts are seemingly overwhelmed by such cases as, according to Judiciary spokesperson Joseph Chigona, most civil cases currently before courts are to do with divorce.
“This is a rising problem; most reasons being given [for divorce] include desertion, cruelty and infidelity,” said Chigona.
A court clerk, who opted for anonymity, disclosed that the Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court alone has so far registered over 350 divorce cases from January up to date.
