EDITORIAL: When divorce floodgates swing open

Namibia's new divorce law is being celebrated in some quarters as a victory for personal freedom, dignity and modernity. By making it easier for couples to dissolve marriages that have irretrievably broken down, lawmakers argue they are removing unnecessary legal hurdles and emotional trauma from an already painful process.

There is merit in that argument. No one should be trapped indefinitely in a toxic, abusive or loveless marriage simply because the legal process is cumbersome and expensive.

Yet, amid the applause for reform, what becomes of the institution of marriage when divorce becomes progressively easier?

If marriages were already struggling to survive under a system that made divorce relatively difficult, what should society expect now that the barriers have been stripped away further still?

Marriage has never been easy. It demands compromise, sacrifice, patience and resilience. Every successful long-term marriage has endured seasons of disagreement, disappointment and hardship. The danger of a more liberal divorce regime is that it may unintentionally encourage the perception that ending a marriage is easier than working through its challenges.

The greatest victims of this cultural shift are often children. Every child dreams of growing up under the same roof as both parents. There is no denying that separation frequently introduces instability into a child's life. Children may find themselves moving between homes and adjusting to new family structures.

Of course, remaining in a hostile and dysfunctional household is not better for a child either. We accept that. 

Modern societies rightly recognise individual rights. However, rights exist alongside responsibilities. Marriage is not merely a private contract between two adults; it is also a social institution that forms the foundation of families and communities.

The true measure of a society is not how efficiently it dissolves marriages, but how successfully it helps them to endure.