Bukavu (DR Congo) (AFP) – “I will score is to obtain so you can 7 wives,” told you Congolese chapel pastor Chirhuza Zagabe, a spouse in order to five spouses and you will father regarding sixteen people.
Within the 2012, the brand new sixty-year-dated partnered about three women on the other hand within his chapel in the eastern Popular Republic of Congo. The guy repudiated you to getting “crappy conduct”, the good news is features five aged ranging from 26 and you can forty eight through other marriages.
Zagabe’s problem shows that polygamy continues regarding the huge central African country, where advocates highly straight back the practice of being married so you’re able to a lot more than just someone even with it having been technically outlawed for more than simply three decades.
As much as one or two % of earth’s populace live in polygamous properties, according to American think-tank, Pew Look Heart.
The newest habit are most prevalent into the sandwich-Saharan Africa, where an estimated eleven per cent of your own populace reside in polygamous property.
The brand new proportion inside DR Congo is a couple %. Examples are plentiful out of Congolese guys boasting in the having good “2nd workplace” that everybody understands — also their very first companion.
Polygamy is extremely extensive in the sandwich-Saharan Africa, where a projected eleven % of one’s society reside in polygamous houses Guerchom NDEBO AFP
When videos purporting to exhibit a person e date try printed into YouTube last month, the latest video ran viral towards the social networking.
They told the story of an earlier Congolese guy which supposedly fell deeply in love with a female who had one or two lookup-alikes that have been so convincing the guy ended up marrying all about three.
Certain comments pitied the newest alleged groom. “He will suffer”, typed one to reviewer. “We will see viewed all of it,” said a unique, if you’re a fan remarked: “This new chap was strong.”
A movies director regarding east town of Goma revealed the guy is actually behind the movie, which he states are based on a true tale and you may utilized stars to boost the trouble of polygamy.
Traditional culture
Most of the Sunday, Zagabe teaches you and you will praises the newest deserves regarding polygamy regarding Lord’s Ancient Church, that has been established in 1983 in fact it is certainly one of DR Congo’s of numerous spiritual sects.
A number of dozen of his flock excitedly hear their preaching in Bukavu, the administrative centre out of Southern Kivu province, having feminine on one hand of main aisle and you may men on the other.
Zagabe’s sermon says humanity’s story come which have you to men and many lady. “In lieu of living in adultery and you will debauchery, God authorised man having multiple wives,” he informed AFP.
“Polygamy is a person place you to goes far-back within traditional African and you can Congolese society. It is really not an effective divine business,” said Raymond Kongolo, a beneficial Catholic priest from inside the Bukavu.
DR Congo’s constitution and you will friends code have demonstrably said as the 1987 one polygamy was an offence, predicated on Joseph Yav, a legal professional and laws teacher from the southern city of Lubumbashi.
‘Blessed by God’
Certainly one of Zagabe’s congregation is Kalungu Kalebe, who has got several spouses and you will eight students. In the place of transgressing legislation, the latest 40-year-dated thinks he’s “blessed by Goodness”.
Fellow parishioner Nathanaelle, 15, told you she are “ready” to marry men together with Japanilainen kauniita naisia other spouses. “That doesn’t annoy me after all,” she extra.
Rakel, certainly one of Zagabe’s wives, sees the youngsters off their other spouses as the her own, and the three offspring she’s borne your.
A special off Zagabe’s wives, Yaelle, told you she stays in balance together with his most other spouses. But she pointed out that neighbors who regularly go to their particular whenever she was the sole partner in the household possess as the avoided upcoming. “They fled away from united states,” Yaelle told you.
“Which polygamy organization is a departure in our people, it’s out of the question!” told you Nicolas Lubala, good 42-year-old Catholic whom accuses the new Kinshasa-based Ancient Church of “adding to ethical depravation”.
