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GENESIS 35:11 reads: “And God said to him, “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants.” The question of multiple wives who are also viewed as child-bearing machines recently came to the fore during the opening of the Johane Marange-led St Noah 2 Primary School in Nyanga. Members of the largest indigenous church in Zimbabwe are well known for their big families and multiple wives.
On their own the vapostori boast of their sexual prowess, something which they justify using Old Testament verses among them: Exodus 21:10, which says a man can marry an infinite amount of women without any limits to how many he can marry, 2 Samuel 5:13; 1 Chronicles 3:1-9, 14:3 say King David had six wives and numerous concubines, 1 Kings 11:3 reads: King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines and 2 Chronicles 11:21 say King Solomon’s son Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines.
The question of polygamy is an interesting one in that most people today view polygamy as immoral while the Bible nowhere explicitly condemns it. The first instance of polygamy/bigamy in the Bible was that of Lamech in Genesis 4:19: “Lamech married two women.” Several prominent men in the Old Testament were polygamists. Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon, and others all had multiple wives. In 2 Samuel 12:8, God, speaking through the prophet Nathan, said that if David’s wives and concubines were not enough, He would have given David even more. Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines (essentially wives of a lower status), according to 1 Kings 11:3.
Why did God allow polygamy in the Old Testament? The Bible does not specifically say why God allowed polygamy. As we speculate about God’s silence, there are a few key factors to consider. First, while there are slightly more male babies than female babies, due to women having longer lifespans, there have always been more women in the world than men.
Current statistics show that approximately 50.5 percent of the world population are women. Assuming the same percentages in ancient times, and multiplied by millions of people, there would be tens of thousands more women than men.
The Johane Marange Apostolic Church officials openly challenged their members who are defying the church doctrine of marrying many wives to comply and increase their performance in bed in order to sire more children. The major reason being ensuring an increase on the number of children enrolled in their schools.
Speaking at a colourful event attended by thousands of parents recently, St Noah College Bocha SDC chairman, Mr Mapoto, left people in stitches after he encouraged male church members to marry more wives so as to increase the school’s enrolment.
Mr Mapoto came out gun blazing saying male members should “fully” utilise their God given ability to sire children.
“Nyope dzeNyanga dzisingadi kuroora pfirai mate pasi. Tinoda kuti chikoro chikure ichi. Vane vakadzi hwani-hwani endai munoroora. I have 102 children attending school at St Noah College, while my chairman has 200. Ndizvo zvinoita Mwari afare izvozvo.Vakadzi vese ava manursery beds, vana vedu ndiyo nursery yacho. Pasina ivo hatikuri,” he said.
“Ndozvinoda Mwari izvozvo.Vakadzi vese ava vamuri kuona manursery beds edu, vana ndonursery yacho. Usiku hwega hwega nursery bed inofanira kunge ichisimwa mbeu,” he added much to the delight of the macho men.
He went on to castigate the first wives who were discouraging their husbands from marrying more wives saying there was no way they could go against the church doctrine.
“Madzimai asingadi kuparikwa muchirambidza varume kutora vamwe vakadzi ngazvibva zvapera. Kana waroorwa chibva watoziva kuti pachauya vamwe,” said Mr Mapoto.
“Kana namambo vari pano (Chief Hata) regai ndibva ndakuudzai kuti kurudzirai vanhu venyu kuroora. Vana havatengwi muchitoroba. Ndosaka muri kuona zvikoro zviri kushaya vana nekuti hapana nursery.”
Although sharing a man seems unbearable, the female church members seem to be content with the order.
“Let them do what they wish. Who are we to go against God’s directive? We are used to it,” said a camera shy woman from the church.
The church officials, however, dismissed child marriages, saying they were malicious lies meant to tarnish the image of their evolving church.
In a bold move to encourage more children, the newly opened school has its fees pegged at a meagre $9 per term with a room to pay in kind should there be any difficulties to pay in cash.
Other primary schools in the area are charging around $20 per term.
It also seems that the schools are set towards upholding the church doctrines.
The church’s education coordinator, Mr Taguta said activities like traditional dances which their children had no choice not to partake in at other schools would not be accepted school so as to keep their children abreast with their church doctrine.
At St Noah pupils are made to take off their shoes during assembly time which is in line with the church’s doctrine.
The school, which has five classroom blocks was built at a cost of $23 790 sourced from contributions by local church members.
The Johane Marange Church has five schools under its name in St Noah College primary and secondary schools, St Makebo, St Noah Two Primary and Nyamadzawo Primary.
Online Reporter