‘I Can Handle Both’ – Hubby By Kuvee Kangueehi Aminuis An extra-ordinary wedding ceremony took place yesterday when two sisters, Kangendje and Vaanda Kenaruzo, married the same husband, Tjiuma Kamberipa, at Otjituve in the Aminuis constituency on the same day. The two sisters, who have been dating Kamberipa for more than five years said ‘we do’ at the wedding ceremony, which did not only attract a lot of interest but also challenged some traditional wedding culture. Kamberipa had to pay four cattle as lobola instead of two as well as N$5 500 for each of the wives. He also wore rings on both hands. Speaking to New Era soon after getting married, Kamberipa said he decided to marry two women because it is “human to want more”. “Everybody wants more than one car, house or cattle so why can I not desire more than one wife?” The 50-year-old farmer said it was not his intention to marry two sisters but explained that he fell in love with the two. He said he does not foresee any problem in his polygamist marriage and that he has the ability to handle two women. “There can only be a problem if there is no leader at home but I am prepared to provide the leadership and thus I know how to handle the situation.” Kamberipa said he had been sharing his bed with both his wives before he got married and is prepared to continue that way. “I sleep with both on my bed and I have no problem because they are sisters – why should two sisters be jealous of each other?” On the issue of intimacy, Kamberipa explained in a weird manner that it depends on the “number”. “It all depends on the number, sometimes you can start with three or you can start with one and then go to two before going to one.” Kamberipa further noted that he is convinced that he is not contravening any Namibian law because the Namibian constitution does respect traditional laws which allow individuals to get married to more than one wife. “It is my democratic right to have more than one wife and if the government respects human rights, it should not object to my marriage.” The father of the two women, Karimuya Kazondanga, said although it was not his wish to give his two daughters to the same man, he could not oppose their wish. “In today’s world, parents do not decide what their children should do but should only listen to their wishes.” He said the marriage was the wish of both his daughters and their husband and he had to respect that. The 78-year-old father said he had never witnessed a wedding involving two brides at the same time in his lifetime, although he has witnessed a mother and daughter getting married to the same husband but on different dates. He noted that such arrangements were made when the first wife was no longer able to perform certain tasks and the family then volunteers to give a daughter as a second wife to assist the mother. Kazondanga said he hoped that the wedding is not taboo and that it conforms to Herero tradition. This is not the first marriage for both sisters as they were married before. Their previous husbands passed away. Kamberipa was also previously married and his wife also passed away. The younger sister Vaanda has one child with Kamberipa, while the latter has 38 children in total from more than 10 different women. Over 600 people attended the wedding, with some people travelling from as far as Okakarara, enthusing that the ceremony was history in the making. Kamberipa is a very popular figure in the Aminuis district. He has a court case pending at the Gobabis magistrate’s court in connection with the possession of an illegal firearm. He was arrested shortly after the unrest in Aminuis last year when police exchanged fire with unknown people who were protesting the installation of a traditional headman. Windhoek-based lawyer Unanisa Hengari said it is not illegal for Kamberipa to marry two wives because customary law provides for that. He however cautioned that should the husband and his two wives want to have their marriage legally recognized, only one wife would be recognized. Hengari who is on holiday in Cape Town added that it is not a must to bind the marriage legally but the marriage certificate can be required at times.