Appointed MP Tsembeni Magongo received positive nods from male legislators when she suggested that men should marry multiple wives to address the rising divorce rate in the country.
According to statistics from the ministry of home affairs, up to 592 couples divorced in 2025, a figure Magongo described as alarming.
Speaking during the ministry’s annual performance report debate yesterday, she argued that men, by nature, desire to have more than one wife, and, in line with Eswatini customs and traditions, this practice is widely accepted.
“Women should not protest this, as it is part of our customs. Taking another wife is not something new,” said Magongo.
She emphasised that no woman is forced into marriage, as it is a personal decision. The MP called on older men to guide younger men to prevent the rising divorce rate.
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She also noted the negative impact of divorce on children, particularly in terms of poor parenting.
In a separate matter, Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo submitted that the proposed motion to make DNA testing mandatory for newborns before birth certificates are issued should be revisited.
The motion aims to address concerns over paternity fraud and ensure accurate child registration.
“Wrong DNA results have caused turmoil in families. I know of a recent case where a husband discovered that two among his children were not fathered by him,” Khumalo said.
Additional Context
Divorce trends have become an increasing topic of debate in Parliament, with lawmakers often linking family stability to social and economic development. Discussions around customary marriage practices such as polygamy and policy proposals like mandatory DNA testing continue to generate public debate across the country.
