Labda kwa mwanasheria wetu
EMT, endapo huyo binti akichomokea ughaibuni na ndoa ikashindikana, dogo na familia yake wanaweza kudai fidia kutoka kwenye familia ya msichana?
Labda tuanze kwa kuangalia Sheria ya Ndoa ya mwaka 1971 inasemaje. Kwanza ina-define mahari as "means any payment of stock, goods, money or other property made or promised in consideration of an intended marriage". Kwa hiyo kutoa mahari inaweza kuwa consideration kwa promise ya kuoana.
Then, kifungu cha 69 (Right to damages for breach of promise of marriage) kinasema kuwa "A suit may be brought for damages for the breach of a promise of marriage made in Tanzania whether the breach occurred in Tanzania Tanzania or elsewhere, by the aggrieved party or, where that party is below the age of eighteen years, by his or her parent or guardian".
Hata hivyo, kifungu hicho kinaendelea kusema kuwa "no damages shall be awarded in any such action in excess of loss actually suffered as a result of expenditure incurred as a direct result of the promise." Kwa hiyo, itambidi mlalamikaji aonyeshe kuwa ame-suffer loss kutokana na breach of the said promise.
Kifungu hiki kinasisitiza kuwa "No suit shall be brought for specific performance of a promise of marriage." Kwa maana nyingine kama kuna breach of promise of marriage, mlalamikaji hawezi kumlazimisha mlalamikiwa waoane.
Kifungu za 70 kinasema malalamiko lazima yaletwe mahakamani ndani ya mwaka mmoja baada ya hiyo breach ifanyike. Kama kuna watu ambao walishatoa zawadi zao, kifungu cha 71 wanaweza kufungua mashtaka kuzidai kama ndoa haitafungwa.
Lakini mlalamikiwa anaweza kiji-defend kuwa kuna sababu halali ambazo zimemfanya a-breach hiyo promise. Baadhi ya sababu ni kama mlalamikaji alimdanganya kwenye masuala fulani kama maisha ya mlalamikaji, fraud, tabia ya mlalamikaji, nk.
Hizi sheria ni za zamani sana na nchi nyingi zimeamua kuzifutilia mbali lakini bado zipo kwenye vitabu vya sheria za Tanzania.