Heck, Misheck, many men would call you a brave man
Sixteen wives, a 17th in the wings, 151 children and 66-year-old Nyandoro is as happy as Larry
A Zimbabwean man who has 16 wives and 151 children says he is keen to keep growing his family.
Misheck Nyandoro, 66, whose source of livelihood is subsistence farming, in addition to his monthly pension, said he is dedicated to all his wives and planning to wed a 17th this year.
“All my wives and children are very happy, I look after them well. I married my first wife in 1983 and I never looked back. From there on, polygamy became a lifestyle.
“I decided to marry again and now I have 16 wives. We live off the land. Having a big family helps because it means we are never short of hands to help with the work,” said Nyandoro.
From Mbire District, Mashonaland Central Province, Nyandoro last married in 2015, but because of the economic crisis in Zimbabwe he put further marriage plans on hold.
“I am marrying my 17th wife this year and if it wasn’t for the ongoing economic crisis, I would have married at least three more wives,” he said.
Nyandoro’s oldest child is 37, but he doesn’t remember the year his other children were born or their ages.
Fifty of them are at school, while others are scattered around the country, employed in different professions.
“It’s a big family. My first born was born in 1984 and I don’t have a last born because currently two of my wives are pregnant. So my family keeps growing.”
Nyandoro said everything in his household happened according to rosters, including meals and quality time with each wife.
He attributed the discipline in his family to his polygamous faith. “My church and faith keeps my family grounded and disciplined. We don’t quarrel,” he said.
Asked about his health and the risk of contracting Covid-19 at the age of 66, he said his faith did not allow him or his family members to receive vaccinations.
Instead, they would continue taking other precautions to prevent getting sick, including prayer.