MIDRAND – Eswatini’s Senator Tony Sibandze has urged the Pan-African Parliament to consider cultural diversity when drafting the Model Law on equality in marriage and family life.
Speaking during deliberations on Part Five of the proposed legislation, Sibandze said certain provisions, such as the requirement for free, full, prior, and informed consent from both parties, may clash with traditional practices in some countries.
He cited Eswatini as an example, where polygamous marriages are recognised and often involve consent from the first wife. “In Eswatini, multiple forms of marriage exist, including polygamous unions where the first wife consents to subsequent marriages,” Sibandze said.
Responding to a correction from another parliamentarian, Sibandze accepted the feedback and clarified his earlier remarks. “My doctor, a professor from Ghana, she’s right. I think maybe it was just my choice of words. I cannot generalise.”
He said while the Model Law presents a strong legal framework, it needs room for adaptation to suit different cultural contexts across the continent. “It’s a good model, but I don’t know how it can be tailored so that all African countries can embrace it,” he said.
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