The economics of volume purchasing

[snapshooter]

Saw this on another board:

South African businessman Milton Mbele broke all the traditional rules of a polygamous wedding when he recently married four women on the same day.

The four brides dressed in flowing white gowns walked down the aisle together, before saying "We do" to the 44-year-old groom.

Mr Mbele says he didn't marry them purely for the spectacle but also because it made financial sense.

"I don't know how much four different weddings would have cost me but I know doing it all at once saved money," he explains.

"For example I only needed one tent, I needed to hire one caterer and one photographer for the entire ceremony."

"I began putting money aside for the event towards the end of 2007 and started collecting quotes for things like the tent and catering costs early last year."

He says he loves all his wives - Thobile Vilakazi, Zanele Langa, Baqinisile Mdlolo and Smangele Cele - equally and also treats them that way.

Mr Mbele himself wears four rings on his finger - he says this is a sign of his commitment to all his wives.

The wives say they were shocked by the news that Mr Mbele wanted to marry them at once but add that they agreed because they love him.

Some two weeks after their much publicised two-day ceremony, Mr Mbele says he is overwhelmed by all the attention his wedding has attracted.

I met Mr Mbele and Smangele, at 23 the youngest Mrs Mbele, at a hotel in Durban - the pair were set to do a radio interview with a national radio station the next day.

'Our culture'

In their hotel room the pair sat comfortably on the bed while taking questions about their big day.

Mr Mbele, a Zulu businessman and municipal manager, says polygamy is still very much part of Zulu tradition.
The wedding rings
Milton Mbele has four wedding rings

"This is a proud part of our culture. It has been practiced for generations before us."

"My grandfather himself had three wives," says Mr Mbele, quickly adding that he isn't blindly following in his grandfather's footsteps.

"I prefer polygamy to having many girlfriends which is what some married men do," he says.

"If I love more than one woman, I would rather make it known to the other women in my life and make it official.

"If I feel like taking another wife this is something that will be in the open and my wives would know," he says.

President Jacob Zuma, also a Zulu, has three wives.

But the practice has been met with criticism.

The arrangements seem to have been carefully thought out down to the last detail, including how Mr Mbele will alternate between his four wives, who all live in different parts of northern KwaZulu-Natal province.

"There are seven days in a week and I have four wives. I will take turns visiting them and use the remaining three days to rest," he says.

In fact, Mr Mbele has already been in relationships with his new wives for several years.

He has three children with "first wife" Thobile, two with "wife-number-two" Zanele, one child with Baqinisile, referred to as "wife-number-three" and two children with "youngest wife" Smangele.

He also has three children from a previous relationship.

Mr Mbele is the breadwinner in all his homes - none of his wives are employed. They say they are happy to be provided for by their husband.

He owns 100 cows and 250 goats and has a good job, so he is relatively wealthy, at least by traditional standards.

[Cajungaltx]

While my husband would have to dig himself out of the grave I dumped his body into if this kind of conversation ever came up... at least the guy is upfront about it, and the women had the option to say 'no'...

As long as it meets these requirements: Consenting Age, Fully Informed and Legal... I'll wish them happiness!

[Atfulldraw]

just think of the money the photographer will make off the prints

[Digigeek]

Originally Posted by Atfulldraw

just think of the money the photographer will make off the prints

Would probably want a volumn discount.

[donlfaulkner]

Wouldn't it also make "financial sense" to house them in the same abode rather than four different places scattered around the province? On the other hand having four women under the same roof would probably offset that savings.

[Cajungaltx]

Originally Posted by donlfaulkner

Wouldn't it also make "financial sense" to house them in the same abode rather than four different places scattered around the province? On the other hand having four women under the same roof would probably offset that savings.

And it'd probably result in him getting a firm grasp on what an idiot he is... lol.... I told Brad about this... and he said the guy is obviously a few sheep shy of a full herd... one woman is usually more than most men can deal with to begin with.... lol.

[Imagebuffet]

Polygamous societies are more brutal than monogamous societies, as this arrangement means that some men won't get a wife. The natural result is violent men.

He is correct, though, that our society practices an even less honorable form of multiple sexual partners. Our society is monogamous only in name.