Marthe Félicité Zintchem, the Mayor of Bafia, a municipality in the Centre Region of Cameroon, recently stormed a wedding ceremony that was already underway and declared it null and void.
The incident, captured in a video circulating online, has sparked discussions about the legality of marriages officiated by officials from different municipalities.
In the video, Mayor Marthe is seen interrupting a white wedding ceremony, where the couple and guests are celebrating joyously.
She asserted that the marriage was invalid because it was being officiated by a mayor from a different municipality, a breach of legal protocol.
Under Cameroonian law, a mayor is not authorised to solemnise marriages outside their jurisdiction without prior permission.
“It is forbidden for a mayor to officiate a marriage outside of his jurisdiction. I noticed that several Mayors encroach on my municipality and hold marriages without seeking permission from me. Marriages celebrated in that manner are illegal,” she said.
Mayor Marthe’s swift action was prompted by reports of other Municipal authorities officiating weddings in her jurisdiction without authorization.
She had instructed her staff to be vigilant and report any such incidents. When she was informed of the ongoing wedding ceremony, she wasted no time in intervening.
In the video, the Mayor officiating the wedding before Mayor Marthe’s arrival was seen hastily signing documents.
However, upon Mayor Marthe’s declaration, the marriage was abruptly halted.
While the video captured the cancellation of the wedding, the subsequent events remain unclear.
It is uncertain whether the couple proceeded to hold the wedding elsewhere or if any legal actions were taken following the incident.
The incident in Bafia sheds light on a broader issue of municipal authorities overstepping their boundaries and performing official duties in areas outside their jurisdiction.
This phenomenon is not unique to Bafia but appears to be occurring in other regions as well.
