Bukavu (DR Congo) (AFP) – “I am able to get is to get to 7 wives,” told you Congolese church pastor Chirhuza Zagabe, a husband to help you four partners and you will father out of sixteen pupils.
Inside the 2012, the 60-year-old hitched around three female in addition in his chapel into the eastern Democratic Republic from Congo. The guy repudiated one for “crappy actions”, nevertheless now enjoys five aged anywhere between 26 and forty-eight through other marriage ceremonies.
Zagabe’s condition implies that polygamy continues on vast central African nation, where advocates firmly straight back the technique of being married to more than just one person even with it having been technically outlawed for much more than just 30 years.
Doing a couple percent of world’s populace live in polygamous domiciles, with respect to the Western think-tank, Pew Search Heart.
Brand new routine was really widespread in the sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 11 % of people live in polygamous homes.
Brand new ratio into the DR Congo are two per cent. Examples abound from Congolese men featuring throughout the having an effective “2nd office” that everyone is aware of — also the earliest companion.
Polygamy are really common in sub-Saharan Africa, where a projected 11 % of populace live in polygamous homes Guerchom NDEBO AFP
When a video purporting to show one elizabeth time try printed into YouTube past few days, this new video clips ran widespread with the social network.
It told the storyline away from an earlier Congolese guy who purportedly fell so in love with a woman who’d one or two research-alikes that have been so persuading the guy ended up marrying all the about three.
Particular statements pitied the newest so-called bridegroom. “He’ll suffer”, published that reviewer. “We will have seen it-all,” told you a different sort of, while you are a fan remarked: “This new chap are solid.”
A cinema manager regarding the east town of Goma shown he is about the film, which he states is actually considering a genuine tale and you will utilized actors to boost the difficulty off polygamy.
Traditional society
All the Week-end, Zagabe teaches you and you will praises new deserves out of polygamy regarding Lord’s Primitive Church, which was created in 1983 which will be among DR Congo’s of many religious sects.
Several dozen from his head eagerly tune in to their preaching when you look at the Bukavu, the administrative centre off South Kivu province, with feminine on one hand of the main aisle and you will guys on the other side.
Zagabe’s sermon states humanity’s story already been with you to definitely male and several females. “In the place of living in adultery and debauchery, Goodness authorised man for several wives,” he told AFP.
“Polygamy are an individual institution that goes far back inside our conventional African and Congolese people. It’s not a beneficial divine business,” told you Raymond Kongolo, a good Catholic priest inside Bukavu.
DR Congo’s constitution and household members code has actually obviously stated due to the fact 1987 one to polygamy try an offence, predicated on Joseph Yav, legal counsel and you can rules professor about south town of Lubumbashi.
‘Blessed by God’
Certainly one of Zagabe’s congregation are Kalungu Kalebe, who has a couple spouses and you will seven college students. In the place of transgressing the law, the fresh new 40-year-dated believes they are “blessed by God”.
Fellow parishioner Nathanaelle, fifteen, said she are “ready” to get married a man with other wives. “That will not bother me at all,” she additional.
Rakel, certainly Zagabe’s wives, notices the children out-of their most other partners once the her own, along with the around three offspring she has borne your.
A unique regarding Zagabe’s wives, Yaelle, said she resides in balance with his almost every other partners. But she realized that neighbours who kissbrides.com site right here familiar with visit their own whenever she try the only spouse regarding domestic has actually as the eliminated coming. “They fled off you,” Yaelle told you.
“Which polygamy company is a departure within area, it is impossible!” said Nicolas Lubala, a good 42-year-dated Catholic exactly who accuses new Kinshasa-headquartered Primitive Church off “causing moral depravation”.