Kinyambiss
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 2, 2007
- 1,374
- 72
Well, I think this matter is rather complex but paradoxically simple one at the same time. Kikwete having been used as a case study for "How leaders should exemplify social practices that are in line with modern perceptions of MORALITY I will use him in my argument, refering to his cultural background, religious beliefs as well as the general practice of Tanzanian men that he represents as President.
Mr Kikwete is a Kwere from Bagamoyo. It, being a coastal area it was heavily influenced by Arab and Islamic culture from the early period of trade contacts between the indeginous peoples of the East African coast and Arab traders from what is now Oman and the surrounding area of the Arab peninsula. As a result of this contact, most societies in the coastal areas are Muslims and follow the Sunni tradition of the faith.
The people of the area have been known to practice polygamy, as permitted by the Quran for centuries now. Unfortunately, due to limited time as I am writing this off the head, I was unable to do adequate research into the pre-islamic Kware practices.. therefore I will not include as a part of my argument, the posibility that Kwere people practiced Polygamy even before the Arab influence.
Anti-polygamists in this thread argue that its a bad import from our past and that it has to be abolished because its unfair or something like that. I have argued that when consideration was put into the contents of S. 9 of the Marriage Act, it was appreciated that a significant proportion of the indegionous as well as Muslim populace (Shia ith'nashree, Sunni, Ismailia [under all schools ie Hanbali, Hanafi, shafii, suffi etc]) were practitioners of this form of marriage. That is why it is legal. It was practiced then and now in seemingly similar proportions. This nullifies the argument that it is a 'bad import from the past' because it is not the past if there has not been a significant reduction in the practice. I acknowledge that it would be difficult to ascertain this argument due to lack of records but I will make a few calculated guesses to supplement where necessary. Please feel free to launch any counter argument that suffices the rules of logic and perhaps evidence where available. But in essence, Parliament in all its wisdom recognised the existence of such practices in the (60s-70s) and enacted accordingly. The question that arises is of course, has Tanzanian society changed its values and perspective as to what morality is and in particular regarding marriage as an institution and all social aspects related thereto?
Kikwete has done no wrong on a legal scale as well as a moral one.. if we were to create a moral scale based on the practices of an average Tanzanian who he represents. It signifies poor logic when someone who considers them self to be modern and "civilized" ,whatever that may mean, compares something that is widely practiced in many societies in the world and is considered to be moral, with walking around with a runny nose.
It gives me great discomfort to consider religious doctrine in this matter, but I think considering the fact that 35% of Tanzanians in the mainland are Muslims and 99% in the Zanzibar Islands, it would be ill guided for me to overlook it or as others have claimed, 'it is not a religious issue". I am of the opinion that they fail to recognise the paramount importance that faith plays in shaping morality and cultural practices in society. Kikwete as a muslim is allowed to marry up to 4 wives (with the consent of the 1st wife and having to treat them equally). This is a matter dealt with directly in the Quran, in an express manner. (4:3, 4:129). Belief in the Quran as the undeniable revelation of God upon mankind is one of the key beliefs in Islam. There is no Muslim that stands today on this planet that doubts the words of the Quran, for to doubt them would void their faith as muslims. That being the case, only interpretation is up for discussion amongst muslims (I thought it important to relate this point for the benefit of those unaware of the unshakable primacy of the Quran in the eyes of Muslims). This means that 35% of Tanzanians believe that, polygamy is moral and within acceptable limits of social practices. Further the other 35% of Tanzanians who adhere to traditional beliefs also (to a considerable extend although not all of them) accept polygamy as moral and justifiable.. A conservative estimate of about 50% of the total population would therefore sanction this practice. That is more or less half the country. How can anyone attempt, regardless of whether it is under the banner of feminism, secularism or whatever else, to argue that it is a thing of the past?
NB: I have assumed that Christians as a general segment of society, do not approve of this practice since it is prohibited in their faith and thus a true christian could never support polygamy (as a matter of faith). And I have also taken the liberty to ignore the very small minority of people that are atheists who do not adhere to any formal system of faith nor even the traditional beliefs due to their relatively insignificant influence on national culture.
Kikwete is doing what the majority of Tanzanians believe to be right, and as long that is the view, sioni tatizo likowapi.
Mr Kikwete is a Kwere from Bagamoyo. It, being a coastal area it was heavily influenced by Arab and Islamic culture from the early period of trade contacts between the indeginous peoples of the East African coast and Arab traders from what is now Oman and the surrounding area of the Arab peninsula. As a result of this contact, most societies in the coastal areas are Muslims and follow the Sunni tradition of the faith.
The people of the area have been known to practice polygamy, as permitted by the Quran for centuries now. Unfortunately, due to limited time as I am writing this off the head, I was unable to do adequate research into the pre-islamic Kware practices.. therefore I will not include as a part of my argument, the posibility that Kwere people practiced Polygamy even before the Arab influence.
Anti-polygamists in this thread argue that its a bad import from our past and that it has to be abolished because its unfair or something like that. I have argued that when consideration was put into the contents of S. 9 of the Marriage Act, it was appreciated that a significant proportion of the indegionous as well as Muslim populace (Shia ith'nashree, Sunni, Ismailia [under all schools ie Hanbali, Hanafi, shafii, suffi etc]) were practitioners of this form of marriage. That is why it is legal. It was practiced then and now in seemingly similar proportions. This nullifies the argument that it is a 'bad import from the past' because it is not the past if there has not been a significant reduction in the practice. I acknowledge that it would be difficult to ascertain this argument due to lack of records but I will make a few calculated guesses to supplement where necessary. Please feel free to launch any counter argument that suffices the rules of logic and perhaps evidence where available. But in essence, Parliament in all its wisdom recognised the existence of such practices in the (60s-70s) and enacted accordingly. The question that arises is of course, has Tanzanian society changed its values and perspective as to what morality is and in particular regarding marriage as an institution and all social aspects related thereto?
Kikwete has done no wrong on a legal scale as well as a moral one.. if we were to create a moral scale based on the practices of an average Tanzanian who he represents. It signifies poor logic when someone who considers them self to be modern and "civilized" ,whatever that may mean, compares something that is widely practiced in many societies in the world and is considered to be moral, with walking around with a runny nose.
It gives me great discomfort to consider religious doctrine in this matter, but I think considering the fact that 35% of Tanzanians in the mainland are Muslims and 99% in the Zanzibar Islands, it would be ill guided for me to overlook it or as others have claimed, 'it is not a religious issue". I am of the opinion that they fail to recognise the paramount importance that faith plays in shaping morality and cultural practices in society. Kikwete as a muslim is allowed to marry up to 4 wives (with the consent of the 1st wife and having to treat them equally). This is a matter dealt with directly in the Quran, in an express manner. (4:3, 4:129). Belief in the Quran as the undeniable revelation of God upon mankind is one of the key beliefs in Islam. There is no Muslim that stands today on this planet that doubts the words of the Quran, for to doubt them would void their faith as muslims. That being the case, only interpretation is up for discussion amongst muslims (I thought it important to relate this point for the benefit of those unaware of the unshakable primacy of the Quran in the eyes of Muslims). This means that 35% of Tanzanians believe that, polygamy is moral and within acceptable limits of social practices. Further the other 35% of Tanzanians who adhere to traditional beliefs also (to a considerable extend although not all of them) accept polygamy as moral and justifiable.. A conservative estimate of about 50% of the total population would therefore sanction this practice. That is more or less half the country. How can anyone attempt, regardless of whether it is under the banner of feminism, secularism or whatever else, to argue that it is a thing of the past?
NB: I have assumed that Christians as a general segment of society, do not approve of this practice since it is prohibited in their faith and thus a true christian could never support polygamy (as a matter of faith). And I have also taken the liberty to ignore the very small minority of people that are atheists who do not adhere to any formal system of faith nor even the traditional beliefs due to their relatively insignificant influence on national culture.
Kikwete is doing what the majority of Tanzanians believe to be right, and as long that is the view, sioni tatizo likowapi.
