04 Oct 2018

 A motion requesting the Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs to consider reviewing the Marriage Act to allow men to marry more than one wives has been rejected.

The motion tabled by councillor for Khwai/Mababe, Mr Kebadirileng Ntsogotlho was rejected after a lengthy debate as councillors had mixed feelings about it.

Cllr Ntsogotlho said the Marriage Act just like the Customary Act should allow men to practice the culture of their choice.

He cited that biblically, polygamy was practiced, adding that even in the neighbouring countries such as Zambia men are free to marry more than one wives.

Those who supported the motion argued that if men were allowed to marry more than one wife, social ills such as infidelity,  passion killing, spread of HIV would be reduced.

He also argued that it would address the issue of ratio, noting that women population was higher than that of men.

Cllr Mpoke Karapo of Gumare/Tubu said a recent research conducted by HAVARD revealed that 28 per cent of women and 34 per cent of men were cheating their partners.

He said he believed that the review of the act would be an answer to that.

Those who were against the motion stressed that there was no need to review the Marriage Act as the Customary Act caters for polygamy.

Specially elected Cllr Nnaniki Rebaisakae was against the motion, arguing that polygamy would affect many families and lead to a rise in divorce.

She said the status quo should remain and the men would choose which act they wanted.

However, the District Commissioner, Mr Keolopile Leipego was called in to advise and he explained that there were two acts in place namely, common law and customary act.

He explained that the customary act allowed men to marry more than one wives while common law allows marriage of one wife and the choice lies with men to decide which act they want to use.

The council however adopted a motion that requested the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to increase old age pension to at least P800 equivalent to destitute food package and also increase a funeral scheme for the sake of pensioners’ dignity.

Mover of the motion, Cllr Ngatumbwe Kazombungo of Nokaneng/Habu explained that increasing the pension would reduce the number of Ipelegeng workers, especially pensioners.

He said most of pensioners were working for Ipelegeng because the money given to them was too little to sustain them.

Also adopted was a  motion calling for the Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development to consider transforming the Training and Localisation Policy into a law moved by Cllr Luke Motlaleselelo of Bojanala ward.

He said that would help the locals to secure permanent jobs, arguing that currently, foreigners were benefiting more at the expense of the locals.

The locals, he said, were used to train foreigners and later fired.

Cllr for Senonnori/Boro, Kenson Kgage said the act would promote citizen empowerment and reduce the high rate of unemployment in the community.

He said it was a pity most of the camps in the Okavango Delta were managed by foreigners while the locals were doing shoddy jobs. ENDS