President Jacob Zuma has defended the practice of polygamy in front of a large audience at the World Economic Forum.

Zuma took a third wife earlier this year. In total, the Zulu leader has had five wives, divorcing one in 1998 before another wife died in 2000.

Newsweek International editor Fareed Zakaria interviewed Zuma in a session entitled "The Outlook for South Africa" in Davos, Switzerland.

Zakaria asked the ANC leader about his "many wives," prompting Zuma to reiterate his belief in the "equality of women".

"There are many people in this audience who find it a challenge to be married to one person," Zakaria commented.

Zakaria asked whether Zuma loves each of his wives equally. "Absolutely!" was the South African president's response, to the amusement of the crowd.