THE High Court in Harare will today hear at least 55 divorce cases.
This brings the total to 185 divorce cases filed at the Harare High Court this month alone.
Of the 185 cases, only a few have been finalised.
Forty one of the 55 cases on today’s Harare High Court Family Law court roll were instituted by women while 14 were registered by their male counterparts.
Experts attribute the growing number of divorce cases to infidelity, domestic violence, financial challenges and, in some instances, emotional abuse.
In Bulawayo, the Family Law Court will today hear 15 cases while four other cases are set for Masvingo High Court.
Only the Chinhoyi and Mutare High Courts will not have divorce cases on today’s roll.
In Harare, Justice Amy Tsanga will preside over the hearing of the 55 cases with statistics showing a weekly increase.
Divorce cases began to surge around 2014, when the courts handled 1297 cases and 1417 cases the following year.
One thousand nine hundred and sixty three couples filed for divorce in 2017 while a 42 percent increase to 2634 cases was recorded in 2018.
In 2020, the courts recorded 1117 cases before an increase to 1351 in 2021.
Reports say more and more couples under unregistered customary law unions are ending their relationships bringing the numbers to alarming levels.
