Super dad eyes more kids

she reached menopause.

In an interview yesterday, Mr Ngwenya (53), who is a member of the Johane Masowe Yechishanu apostolic sect said he would continue to bear more children, God willing.

“Only God knows how many children I am going to have with my three wives by the time I die. I believe bearing children is a gift from God and more so, it’s a blessing to have children.” Mrs Ngwenya welcomed her baby number 15 on Monday at Gweru Provincial Hospital.

The Ngwenyas have since named the new addition to the family, Mthandazo.

Mr Ngwenya has 36 children with four women. The first wife, however, recently passed away after giving birth to 18 children, leaving Mrs Hlekiwe Ngwenya as the most senior wife .

Mr Ngwenya said he did not agree with his church’s position of discouraging members from seeking medical assistance at hospitals.

Most apostolic sects believe that prayers only heal the sick without the assistance of health professionals.

Mr Ngwenya said he decided to have his family access medical treatment after 18 of his children were once attacked by measles at the same time.

“We had a bad experience about three years ago when 18 of my children were attacked by measles. The hospital authorities had to set up a makeshift clinic at my home while attending to my children. From then on, I started appreciating the importance of health institutions as I believe the church and Government institutions like hospitals are one and the same thing when it comes to taking care of the welfare of human beings,” he said.

Mr Ngwenya said all of his children, save for two, were still going to school.

He said the majority of them were still at primary school level while only two were pursuing professional courses.

Mr Ngwenya expressed gratitude to Gweru Provincial Hospital authorities for accepting his wife to deliver his latest baby.

“I would also like to thank hospital authorities at Gokwe District Hospital who valued my wife’s life and transferred her to Gweru Provincial Hospital where she again received a warm welcome.”