Polygamous men stir relocation headaches

for authorities trying to relocate families to Arda Transau to pave way for exploitation of diamond resources in the area.
Chinese firm, Anjin Investments, which has started relocating families to Odzi is giving one family unit a house with four rooms with a stand alone grass-thatched kitchen.
Two other firms Mbada Diamond Mining Company and Marange Resources are also constructing houses for affected villagers.
Those with more than one wife are getting an additional house and a kitchen notwithstanding the number of wives. There lies the problem.
The arrangement has not gone down well with polygamous families most of whom are from the Marange Apostolic sect who have several wives ranging from four to 15.
In their religion, there should be a house with the traditional father’s bedroom where children are not allowed to enter.
Several families interviewed at the weekend said in their African and church culture, each wife is entitled to her kitchen, a situation that was not possible with the way the allocation is structured.
A family is also entitled to a US$1 000 disturbance allowance and a basic grocery, a situation that would create challenges for the husband to distribute the money and groceries to his wives.
Mr James Kambeni, who moved from Chiadzwa to Arda Transau last Friday has four wives but was allocated two houses with two kitchens.
This has seen the two youngest wives cooking outside.
When The Herald crew visited the family, the husband had gone to Marange for a church service but the wives could not hide their frustrations.
“At Marange where we used to stay, each wife had her own kitchen, but when we came here we got only two kitchens.
“It is not proper for us as women belonging to one husband to share a kitchen, cooking utensils and food,” said Dorcas Kambeni, the eldest wife.
Another wife, Annah said when she relocated from Marange she did not expect to encounter such challenges.
“Mukadzi wese anoda choto chake chekubikira, (Every wife would want her own kitchen),” she said.
A stone’s throw away from the Kambeni family is that of Mr Afia Kayiboni who has three young wives.
The Kayiboni family that also relocated last Friday was given a single kitchen – again this has created some challenges.
“I am not used to sharing the same house with another woman, let alone a kitchen as is happening now.
“We urge authorities to look into this problem,” said one of the wives.
Relocation of Chiadzwa families started in December to pave way for full-scale exploitation of diamonds at Marange.