Akin to Uganda, Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic, Zambia is one of the few Christian nations that allows polygamous unions to be legally formed.
Under Zambian law, polygamous unions may be contracted and they have been reported to be extremely widespread in the nation.
While frequently more common in rural areas, the practice can also be found in more urban settings.
It is a criminal offense (bigamy) for a person married under the Act to undergo a marriage ceremony whilst legally married to another person.
Whether a man needs consent of his existing wife or wives before taking another wife or wives depends on the particular customs governing the marriage.