Culled from theindependent.com

The man who will be exchanging vows with four brides simultaneously today says his wedding was a "well-thought cost-cutting exercise" rather than a record-seeking stunt.

Milton Mbele, 45, the municipal manager of the Indaka local municipality near Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal , is set to wed four women all at once today in a Christian wedding followed by a traditional ceremony tomorrow.

Speaking to The Independent on Saturday ahead of his quadruple nuptials, which have made headlines across the world, the traditional polygamist said he could not wait for the biggest day of his life.
'It was a matter of negotiations, really'
"It was a matter of negotiations, really," he said of how he managed to get the women to agree to wed him all at once.

"I don't know what the future holds for me with them, but I am very excited about this, not just because it hasn't been done before, but because I believe in it."
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His brides, Smangele Cele, Thobile Vilakazi, Zanele Langa and Happiness Mdlolo, will share the stage in a wedding that has courted controversy and excitement alike.

The festivities, which will cost Mbele R100 000, will be held in Weenen and the traditional ceremony at nearby Nhlawe.

Mbele said he had thought about marrying just one wife 10 years ago, but later came to the realisation that he might be "tempted" to take more.
'I will accommodate all of them'
"I initially thought of just two wives," he said frankly.

"But then I met the third wife and decided instead of marrying them one by one it would make sense to cut costs, so in 2005 I told each of them about taking four wives all at once."

It would take another four years, though, to finalise the finer details of the plan.

Although Mbele agrees his marriage to his four sweethearts - aged between 22 and 35 - is rather unusual, he doesn't see anything wrong with it.

"This is my tradition and it can't be wrong," he explained.

"I have been waiting for this moment for a long time. I have had sleepless nights preparing for this. It wasn't so difficult convincing all the wives to agree to it, each knew of the others in my life."

But Mbele is aware that having four wives under one roof might be a headache, so he's going to put them up in their own homes to avoid conflict. And, asked how he intends handling the competition among them for his attentions, he would only say: "I will cross that bridge when I get there".

"You know, like a lizard if you cut its tail, wherever it points to that's where I will be going depending on the mood. I will accommodate all of them, though, as I have already in the past

His a love-vendor. I hope they dont kill eachother

Those women are so stupid and for the man? Nonsense

e don do nah.

why is it news to hear an African man married multiple wives?

majoring in irrelevancies is the bane of Africa.

can we focus on the famine struck areas or the Sudanese conflict. lack of basic amenities like electricity, running water. Bad roads. Corruption. Most live on $1 a day. No health facilities. Some are dying trying to get to Europe on rickety boats. Others are thrown into the sea and left to drown by smugglers.

OMG! Now I belive the wrold is coming to an end!

That dude is a baller

Ebonyeyes:

His a love-vendor. I hope they dont kill eachother

Maybe not just yet cos they look estatic about their 'new status'

4 women for that pounded yam head? Uhm lucky him.

where are the man's original wives?

Did he beat them to a pulp?

This aint no spring chicken.

michelin89:

4 women for that pounded yam head? Uhm lucky him.

LWKMD perfect description

In fact, Mr Mbele has already been in relationships with his new wives for several years.

He has three children with "first wife" Thobile, two with "wife-number-two" Zanele, one child with Baqinisile, referred to as "wife-number-three" and two children with "youngest wife" Smangele.

He also has three children from a previous relationship.

Mr Mbele is the breadwinner in all his homes - none of his wives are employed. They say they are happy to be provided for by their husband.

He owns 100 cows and 250 goats and has a good job, so he is relatively wealthy, at least by traditional standards

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8292312.stm

2 kids from wife #1

2 kids from wife #2

1 kid from wife #3

2 kids from wife #4

3 kids from a previous relationship (probably more from multiple relationships I'm sure)


I guess this all makes sense to somebody because all i see here is confusion.

i wld like how he planned to support all these kids.

Fhemmmy:

i wld like how he planned to support all these kids.

God will provide

As they say, God who provided the kids will provide a way of survival.

Hahahaaaaaaa!