The nation has been divided following a proposal for polyandry to recognized as a legal form of marriage. If this law would be passed it would allow one woman to marry more than one husband. We’ve already seen media personalities such as Bonang coming out to endorse polyandry.
eNCA recently spoke to polygamist Musa Mseleku and cultural activist, Nokuzola Mndende to hear their thoughts.
“It’s founded and it’s based on tradition, customs, as well as values that respect the foundation of why we are married as people. We are spiritual beings, we did not just arrive here and became flesh and blood, coming from nowhere,” added Musa Mseleku. “Our spiritual existence plays a huge role in how our lives will play out at the end of the day. I can tell you this is a mere straightforward attack to the only institution that should be protected, should be preserved – which is marriage.”
Mseleku added that he does not understand where the activists are coming from with this proposal. “I do not even understand those activists, where are they coming from. I think maybe they are driven by so much of trying to portray certain things as equality. Whereas, they don’t understand the fundamentals of where we are coming from with the institution of marriage.”
Also touching on polygamy, which he practices, the reality-television star said that it not based on a man’s desire to have many wives but to ensure that children are born from his seed. He also stated that he is glad that he’s being consulted about it and sees polyandry as a threat to marriage.
“Polygamy does not just exist because a man has got a desire to have many wives. There are principal reasons why we are having more than one wife. And one of those is to make sure that we have people that come out from our seeds. From one person. Not from different people because that on its own is going to cause a lot of commotion and confusion it’s in fact going to destroy the very same thing that they are trying to fight for. So this is out of the ordinary. And I’m glad that is at the stage where we are being consulted about it.”
Cultural activist, Nokuzola Mndende revealed that she is shocked to hear about this and explained why.
“I’m shocked even to hear about that thought on its own. First of all, we must be practical guys. Because, when we talk about building a family, we are thinking about children and we are thinking about the next generation that is to come. And children must have an identity that is both paternal and maternal.
“So to me, I don’t see it an issue when I become pregnant because of this one man. Because I will know that my child, has got the mother’s gene from eDlamini and eSimelane if I’m married to Lasizwe Simelane. But now the problem that I see is that when I marry three men, and I become pregnant, what will be the identity of this child?” She further added, “Because this child has got three fathers and I don’t know who is the one who planted the child within my womb? Then that is the problem.”
A proposal for polyandry to be legally recognised as a form of marriage has sparked a major debate. The proposal has also raised a number of cultural questions. Cultural activist, Nokuzola Mndende and polygamist, Musa Mseleku spoke to eNCA earlier in the week. #Dstv403pic.twitter.com/jPjPupkc83
