South Africa, known for world’s most liberal constitutions for allowing same-sex marriages for all and polygamy for men, is now debating to allow women to have more than one husband. The proposal has sparked widespread debate among conservatives in the country, according to a report by CNN.

Here’s what the new proposal means for women: 

Gender rights activists for long have asked the government to legalise polyandrous unions, which means women having more than one husband.

The Department of Home Affairs Now published the legalisation of polyandry in a green paper in a bid to make the institution of marriage more inclusive.

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This move by the government has the country’s conservatives and certain religious groups up in arms.

TV personality Musa Mseleku, who has four wives, told BBC, the new policy will destroy their culture and how will kids of these marriage know their identity? 

Professor Collis Machoko, an academic who has conducted research studies on polyandry, told the BBC that objections to the South African government’s proposal are about control.

All about the Green Paper

The Department of Home Affairs published the Green Paper after consultations with traditional leaders and human rights activists before proposing the policy change.

The Green Paper also proposes to rectify laws that allow the marriage of minors. It also proposes giving legal recognition to Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and Rastafarian marriages.