Madam,

As religious leaders at Ludzidzini Royal Residence unpacked the biblical mandate for monogamy during the recent Easter preparations, they cited 1 Timothy to remind the faithful that an overseer must be the husband of but one wife. This reminder sparked a necessary conversation about the current state of our spiritual guidance. However, a major question remains: What becomes of those in leadership who already have multiple families? This is not a theoretical debate for emaSwati; It is a complex reality where faith and ancient tradition frequently collide.

In both Christianity and Eswatini Law, divorce is an extreme rarity. Traditionally, it is reserved for severe breaches such as witchcraft or adultery. Yet, we are seeing a rise in broken unions and immoral behaviour among those meant to be moral vanguards. Many leaders defend their polygamous households by quoting the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:17: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfil them.” In our context, this is often interpreted as: “Angiketi kutocitsa emasiko, kodvwa ngitowagcwalisa.”

If the root cause of domestic failure is not found in the law, it must be found in the character of the individuals. As noted by the church leaders at Ludzidzini, maybe if not most of the time,the love of money and a lack of proper spiritual vetting often lead to the ordination of people whose private lives do not align with their public offices. We have seen a number of cases, where pastors are implicated in money laundering or disputes that touch on money issues, thus we cannot rule that aspect out of reach. We must ask: Is the problem the number of wives or is it a lack of integrity? A man who cannot manage the peace in his own home will struggle to lead a congregation, regardless of how many wives he has as per the dictates of the Bible.

Churches and traditional leaders must find a unified way forward.

We cannot simply erase the history of existing polygamous families in the name of new doctrine. Nor can we ignore the disparity that occurs when a leader’s household is in disarray.

Instead of being judgemental about the situation, there need to be dialogue that acknowledges the dignity of existing unions while enforcing strict moral discipline. True leadership requires balancing spiritual evolution with the cultural realities of the people.The Church is often seen as the ultimate moral compass. When leaders fail to manage their own homes, the foundation of the community begins to crack. The scriptures are clear: A man who cannot lead his own family cannot lead the house of God. This is about the stability he brings to his role. If a leader is distracted by domestic strife or financial greed, he cannot provide the guidance that his congregation desperately needs.

We must return to a system of rigorous vetting and accountability. It is not enough to have a gift for preaching or singing or to have a degree from a Bible college. True leadership is found in the quiet moments of daily life.

 If we continue to overlook character in favour of talent and qualification, we will continue to see the same patterns of failure.

Let us choose leaders who reflect the values we hold dear, both in the pulpit and at home. This balance is essential for social harmony and the preservation of our national identity.

Throngs of worshipers arrived from around the country and also neighbouring South Africa (SA) to attend the Easter service which was held at the National Church in Lobamba. (Pics: Joseph Zulu)