Okavango Knowledge Trust

𝐁𝐎𝐓𝐒𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐀 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐂𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐔𝐋𝐀

Are you ready for marriage or you will be taking a risk. The following formula is on based on Botswana’s social patterns, economic realities, and research on long-term marriage stability. The higher the score the more ready you are and ready for a stable marriage.

𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬

(A score of 75+ = “Good readiness”)

𝟏.𝐀𝐠𝐞 & 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲-𝟐𝟓 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬

Bride 25–30 years → 25 pts

Bride 23–24 or 31–33 years → 20 pts

Bride under 23 or over 33 → 15 pts

Groom 28–35 years → 25 pts

Groom 26–27 or 36–38 years → 20 pts

Groom under 26 or over 38 → 15 pts

(Both partner ages are averaged)

𝟐. 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲-𝟐𝟓 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬

Combined monthly income P15,000+ and savings 3+ months living expenses → 25 pts

Income P10,000–14,999 and some savings → 20 pts

Income P6,000–9,999 and little/no savings → 15 pts

Income under P6,000 → 10 pts

𝟑. 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 -𝟏𝟓 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬

Both have at least tertiary diploma/degree or stable vocational skill → 15 pts

One partner tertiary, other at least Form 5 → 10 pts

Neither has post-secondary → 5 pts

𝟒. 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝟏𝟓 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬

Known each other 3+ years & dated seriously 1+ years → 15 pts

Known each other 1–3 years → 10 pts

Known each other < 1 year → 5 pts

𝟓. 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 & 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 -𝟏𝟎 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬

Families met, lobola/bridal price discussions settled → 10 pts

Families aware but no formal steps → 5 pts

No family awareness → 0 pts

𝟔.𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 -𝟏𝟎 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬

(Self-scored on honesty)

We can resolve conflict without insults/violence → 5 pts

We have discussed children, finances, and faith → 5 pts

𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠;

Add up your points:

85–100 → Excellent readiness (high stability potential)

75–84 → Good readiness (some minor gaps to work on)

60–74 → Caution (address weak areas before marrying)

Below 60 → High risk (consider waiting)

𝐅𝐚 𝐫𝐞 𝐤𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐤𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐞 𝐤𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐤𝐨𝐭𝐬𝐚 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐚 𝐠𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐩𝐚. 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚.

𝐀 𝐦𝐦𝐞 𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐨 𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐬𝐞 𝐠𝐨 𝐤𝐚 𝐧𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐤𝐚 𝐧𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐰𝐞𝐭𝐬𝐡𝐨?

𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞: 𝐎𝐤𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐨 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 (𝐎𝐊𝐓)