The South African government’s plan to legalize polyandry (when a woman has more than one spouse at the same time) has sparked outrage among conservatives.
Professor Collis Machoko, a well-known expert on the subject, is not surprised.
Speaking to the BBC, Prof. Machoko said the complaints are about “control.” “True equality is not yet a reality in African civilizations. We’re at a loss as to how to deal with ladies we can’t control.”
South Africa’s constitution is one of the most liberal in the world, allowing for same-sex weddings for everyone and polygamy for males.
Musa Mseleku, a businessman and TV personality with four wives, is among those who condemn polyandry.
“This will destroy African culture. What about the children of those people? How will they know their identity?” asks Mr Mseleku, who stars in a South African reality TV show about his polygamous family.
“The woman cannot now take the role of the man. It’s unheard of. Will the woman now pay lobola [bride price] for the man. Will the man be expected to take her surname?”
Polyandry is characterized by the woman initiating the connections and inviting the spouses to join her union. Others choose to contribute to her livelihood rather than pay the bride price.
She can divorce a co-husband if she feels he is causing problems in her other relationships.
Prof Machoko stated that the major reason the men he questioned decided to be co-husbands was because they loved each other. They didn’t want to take the chance of losing their wife.
Some men also mentioned not being able to please their spouses sexually, consenting to a co-proposal husband’s to prevent divorce or adultery.
Another cause was infertility; some husbands agreed to the wife marrying another man in order for her to have children.
