Polygamous man with 14 wives snubs new 8 bedroom homestead

A polygamous man with 14 wives allegedly snubbed a new homestead built for him in Arda Transau saying it did not have bedrooms for his other six wives, Parliamentarians heard at the weekend.

Anjin Investments had built a spacious homestead with 14 thatched huts and an eight-bedroomed house, a significant departure from the standard four-roomed house being built for relocated villagers.

But Mr Philemon Johani Kaiboni of Johanne Marange apostolic sect has not taken occupation of the new house, which resembles a villa as that would leave six of his wives with no bedrooms.

It is now more than three months the homestead has been built and it now risks being a white elephant.

The Parliamentary portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy visited the new homestead, and saw a security guard manning the premises.

The committee, chaired by Guruve South MP, Cde Edward Chindori-Chininga (Zanu-PF) was told by people around the homestead that the superdad remained holed up at Arda dairy farm, a temporary homestead he was given pending the construction of the new one.

Anjin had not only built 14 thatched huts, but constructed 14 Blair toilets to match the number of the wives.

Mr Kaiboni was not available for comment.

Anjin spokesperson, Ms Martha Chikata confirmed yesterday that they had completed constructing the homestead but said no new demands had yet been submitted to the firm by Mr Kaiboni.

"The houses that were built for Mr Kaiboni at the relocation area weredone in full consultation with all the parties involved that is himself as the head of the household, as well as Local Government.

"However, the project has since been completed and handed over to Local Government for eventual hand over to the beneficiary," said Ms Chikata.

"As a company we are yet to receive any formal complaints regarding the nature of the housing structures that we constructed for Mr Kaiboni and his family. We are however, open to listen and see how best we can assist as we have done with other families that have been relocated under our programme."

Sources close to the family said Government had initially promised to give him a farm but Mr Kaiboni refused saying he wanted a homestead.

It is believed that Mr Kaiboni's reluctance to move in to a homestead he had initially agreed with authorities was at the behest of some of his wives whom he had not consulted.

Firms extracting diamonds at Chiadzwa are responsible for funding of relocation and construction of houses.

The villagers got US$1 000 disturbance allowance per household and some groceries.

The villagers have also been given agricultural inputs such maize and fertiliser.

Anjin Investments has built over 200 houses for the families that had to be moved.

Each house at Arda Transau in Odzi has four rooms and a stand-alone kitchen.

Polygamous men have been getting two houses. Mr Kaiboni made headlines in 2010 when he refused to move on into the two houses earmarked for polygamous men.

For a start, he wanted 15 houses and 14 kitchens for himself and his wives, but he then needs houses for his "about 70" children (he does not keep count) since each wife's house must include the traditional father's bedroom where children are banned.

This means he wants 29 houses and US$14 000.

Anjin had temporarily relocated Mr Kaiboni and his family to the former Arda Dairy Farm in Odzi,

Another challenge authorities will have to grapple with is the fact that some of Mr Kaiboni's children are already married.

The idea is that they should be allocated homes at Arda Transau Farm in their own capacity as adults, rather than as children of a patriarch.