The government of eSwatini has come out to strongly term the story on all men being forced into polygamy as fake and an insult to the country. The story that the Polygamous King Mswati III ordered men to have at least two wives or face jail has been trending online for some time now; since it was first published by a Zambian newspaper on Monday 13th May, 2019. According to the story that caused online frenzy, the government would sponsor marriage ceremonies, pay dowry and offer houses to men who entered into polygamous marriages. The story claimed that the Government had given the men up to June, 2019 to comply with the directive of face jail terms.
But, Government spokesman Percy Simelane has termed the the story malicious and poisonous.
Simelane said ‘the current dispatch titled “Marry more wives or face jail” quoting the King, and all other related reports, are not only an insult to the Monarchy and the culture of Eswatini but a disgrace to journalism’.
“His Majesty has not made any pronouncement to that effect as it has never been an issue raised by Emaswati. We will continue to appeal for morality, responsible behaviour and professionalism among journalists and the general public with access to social media. It would be unfortunate if journalism and social media are turned into character assassination
platforms and springboards to ridicule individuals and leaders,” clarified the Government Spokesman via a presser dated 13th May, 2019.
King Mswati who has 15 wives and more than 25 children renamed Swaziland to eSwatini and is known to be enjoying an extravagant lifestyle while 63 percent of his 1.3-million of his people live in abject poverty.
