The Sunday News
Divinity Digest, Witness Dingani
QUESTION
So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley).Hosea 3:1.Examine this verse in relation with concept of dowry or lobola in Zimbabwe?(25)
COMMENT OVERVIEW
The above question might be knew to some of us ,the above question will be fully answered on this ongoing article . It is wise every time to define the key words or answer different fundamental questions. For instance.
a) Who Was Hosea?
b) What Happened In Chapter 3?
c) What Is Lobola/Dowry?
d) What Are The Positive Effects Of Paying Lobola ?
The above question was submitted to the author by Danhamombe High Students from Masvingo Province under the subject teacher Hardy Hammer .
ANSWER
•Chapter 3 of the book of Hosea is a debate among scholars, as some scholars argue that the wife in Chapter 3 was not necessarily Gomer but another wife, the above view has been supported by Stuart in Page 75 in his work on the book of Hosea
However, some scholars support the view that the wife was Gomer because of the phrase “go again” and the fact that the wife is not named .This has been further supported by Constable page 26 paragraph 3 .There are so many reasons why Hosea might have paid bride price to Gomer, some scholars believe that Hosea perhaps wanted to marry Gomer permanently [an idea of buying the wife ], as Gomer was well known of going back to her lovers, this is evidenced in Hosea 2:5. However, it is believed that it was a way which Hosea used to deal with Gomer. This can be further supported by the punishment which Gomer experienced after the second marriage, even the items which Hosea used in paying the bride price was of a less value, this has been supported by Constable Page 26 who believe that 15 shekels was equivalent to the value of a dead slave, barley was the food of cattle.
•In Zimbabwean context, lobola or dowry is very important, various items can be used to pay lobola or dowry. Media has recorded different stories concerning the payment of lobola .The books of ATR have been authored indicating the items used to pay lobola during the marriage rites and it’s significance. This include cattle, goats, grain and etc. Each and every item which is used to pay lobola is important.
Paying lobola has positive effects this is the reason why it is very important in Zimbabwean context ,this has been further supported by A Chiwara and NT Taringa in their work entitled “Phenomenology of Religion” Page 67 ,they submitted that payment of lobola or dowry is important as it prohibit divorce. Paying lobola or dowry it cement the relationship between two different families. All this indicates that paying lobola or dowry is important in Zimbabwean context for the above reasons .
•Payment of lobola or dowry is well supported as some people who believe that the partners receive blessings from the parents, this might be the reason why the idea is well supported by the parents .It should be noted that payment of lobola makes the wife appreciate the marriage and brings about a sense of belonging, this might be the reason why the married woman goes out to fight against the other women “small houses” if there are any. All this it is a result of payment of lobola in Zimbabwean context.
N.B THERE ARE SO MANY POINTS WHICH CAN BE ADDED – as a sign of commitment.
HOWEVER PART
•It should be noted that failing to pay either lobola or dowry affects the patners, this is also emphasised during the marriage rites .Negative effects include the wife being treated as a servant by either the relatives or the husband. This has been recorded several times by media where it is said that aunts ill treat the sister-in-law. Sis Noe under Sunday News in 2016 on the month of July once published an article which had similar story, the victim wrote that she was looking for a new man who is serious and the reason was that she was experiencing ill treatment from the relatives even the husband was well known for arriving home early hours of the morning. Perhaps this was a result of non -payment of lobola. All this indicates that failing to pay lobola has negative effects as well.
•Failing to pay lobola sometimes causes conflict in Zimbabwean context, specifically during the burials. Media has recorded that number of the funerals have been disrupted because of non-payment of lobola. In one incident the relatives of the deceased hid all the tools which were to be usedduring the burial, some were seen sleeping inside the grave as they demanded lobola. Everyone was confused. All this as a result of non-payment of lobola. Hence, indicating that non payment of lobola leads to conflict between the families.
N.B There Are So Many Points Which Can Be Added
Question Demands
-examine
Witness Dingani is the Author~Columnist ~Cricketer ~Youth Coach. He is the founder of charity organisation “Dingani Charity Organisation”which was launched to transform the orphans and the vulnerable. He is also studying Theology at Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU). In 2016 he was nominated by Pan Zimbabwean Society as the influential youth in Zimbabwe and was voted in position 8 out of 15.Questions can be submitted through his Mobile number +2363777896159 or email address :[email protected]
