Blantyre, 29 January, 2025 / 8:05 pm (ACI Africa).
On the list of issues that Catholic Bishops taking part in the Plenary Assembly of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) are deliberating upon, is the worrying trend of breakdown of marriages in the southern African country.
In a press release that ACI Africa obtained Tuesday, January 29, the Secretary General of ECM, Fr. Valeriano Mtseka, said, “The meeting will, among other things, reflect on marriage breakdowns.”
Recent reports indicate a significant increase in divorce rates in Malawi, raising concern among religious leaders about the future of the family in the country. Equally worried are family advocates as, despite the country's strong family values, more couples are reportedly seeking separation.
A September 2023 study on divorce and remarriage in rural Malawi indicates that while marriage is nearly universal in the country, marital instability and high turnover remain significant challenges.
Studies show that 28 to 49 percent of marriages in Malawi end in divorce before the 20th anniversary. This persistent trend, according to research, highlights the vulnerability of marriages, particularly in matrilineal regions of southern Malawi, where historical patterns of marital instability have been observed.