- More than 50 marriages ending every month
BY SIBUSISEKILE NDLANGAMANDLA
MANZINI – With more than 50 marriages ending in divorce every month during the first quarter of the financial year, Government has turned to churches and marriage officers in an effort to strengthen marriages and reduce family breakdowns in Eswatini.
The Ministry of Home Affairs recorded 164 divorces between April and June 2026, according to its first-quarter performance statistics for the 2026/27 financial year.
The figures show that 54 divorces were registered in April, 56 in May and another 54 in June—an average of almost two marriages ending every day during the three-month period.
The numbers have attracted the attention of Parliament, where legislators have raised concerns about the continued breakdown of marriages and called upon Government to strengthen interventions aimed at protecting families.
Home Affairs has now confirmed that it is already engaging the country’s church bodies and marriage officers in search of practical and lasting solutions.
“The Ministry has engaged the church bodies and marriage officers to find a lasting solution in curbing the escalating number of divorces. These engagements are still ongoing with a view to mitigating the occurrence of divorces,” the ministry said.
The intervention places religious institutions and marriage officers at the centre of a broader conversation about what can be done before marriages reach breaking point.
Churches traditionally play an important role in preparing couples for marriage through premarital counselling, while also providing guidance and support to married couples experiencing difficulties.
Marriage officers, meanwhile, have the responsibility of ensuring that marriages are solemnised and registered in accordance with prescribed legal requirements.
The ministry’s latest approach suggests that Government wants greater attention placed not only on registering marriages and divorces, but also on strengthening the institutions and individuals involved at the beginning of a marriage.
Concerns surrounding the work and capacity of marriage officers had already surfaced earlier in the year.
In March, a task team was established to examine their affairs amid concerns that weaknesses within the marriage process could potentially contribute to marital problems.
Dr Ntandoyenkosi Mlangeni has also highlighted the importance of collaboration between the relevant bodies and Government on marriage-related policies.
He said such cooperation would help ensure compliance with national legislation while strengthening the proper regulation of marriage officers.
Mlangeni said the Council would work closely with Government ministries, particularly the Ministry of Home Affairs, to ensure its activities remained aligned with national laws.
While the 164 divorces recorded between April and June remain significant, the figures also provide a more encouraging perspective when compared with the same period of the previous financial year.
During the corresponding April-to-June period, 209 divorces were recorded, meaning the latest quarterly figure represents a decline of 45 cases.
However, divorce remains a persistent social concern. Another 196 divorces were recorded between July and September 2025, demonstrating why policymakers continue to pay close attention to the stability of marriages and families.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, through its Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Department, is responsible for registering marriages, divorces and other changes to citizens’ civil status. It also provides guidance regarding divorce nullifications and changes to marital status.
The growing focus will now be on whether discussions between Government, churches and marriage officers can move beyond consultation and produce practical measures that help couples prepare better for marriage, access support when difficulties emerge and ultimately build stronger, more sustainable families.
With 164 marriages ending within just three months, the issue remains more than a statistic. Behind every divorce are families, children and individuals whose lives can be profoundly affected by the breakdown of a marriage.
Government’s engagement with churches and marriage officers could therefore mark an important shift towards prevention—strengthening marriages before problems become irreparable and ensuring couples have access to guidance and support when they need it most.
