On Monday 11th October 2010, MIFUMI lawyers walked out of the Supreme Court more confident to see the Bride Price case heard at the highest court possible even after the judges adjourned the hearing to a later date.
Last year on Thursday 26th March 2009, MIFUMI’s petition on bride price was brought before a panel of 5 judges for hearing. The petition called for a reform in the bride price institution so Bride Price becomes a gift that is freely given and received.
Some of the judges did maintain that demanding a refund in the event of dissolution of the marriage demeans and undermines the dignity of a woman and violates the Constitution.
Though the judges at the Supreme Court dismissed MIFUMI’s request to present new evident, they did find the case of both importance and interest prompting them to adjourn the hearing to a later date.
At the constitutional court, MIFUMI submitted 32 affidavits from women, young men and widows who have been abused as a result of bride price.
Patrick Ndira, the Deputy Executive Director of MIFUMI said MIFUMI would continue with her campaigns and advocacy against the bad practices in the payment of bride Price.
MIFUMI has long argued that Bride Price forces women to continue to live in violent relationships as their parents cannot take them back without the refund.
