adminFungai Jachi Court Correspondent
A Kingdom Glory Ministries pastor appeared in court accused of solemnising weddings at his church without a marriage officer’s certificate.
Appearing before Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe, Prince Emmanuel Tsoka (35) is charged with unauthorised solemnisation of marriage ceremonies forbidden as defined in section 8:2 of the Marriage Act Chapter 5:11.
He denied the allegations and was remanded to November 2 on $50 bail.
Prosecutor Ms Francisca Mukumbiri alleged that sometime in September 2014 Simbarashe Kachenautowa (23) got customarily married to Talent Matanhire.
The couple allegedly made plans to have a white wedding with the guidance of Pastor Musa Kamisola.
It is alleged that Kamisola introduced the couple to Tsoka and told them he would be their marriage officer.
The court heard that Tsoka asked the couple for $50 saying the money was meant for the processing of marriage certificates at the Registrar General’s Office.
It is the State’s case that Tsoka demanded a suit to wear at the wedding and the couple obliged.
On March 28 Tsoka officiated the wedding of the couple and apologised to them for the unavailability of their marriage certificates blaming the Registrar’s Office for the delay.
It is alleged that Tsoka promised the couple that their marriage certificate would be ready on March 30 2015.
Allegations are that on the promised date Tsoka insulted the couple when they called to enquire about the marriage certificate.
On October 9 the couple approached the Registrar General’s Office to enquire about their marriage certificate and they were informed that there was no such document in their names.
The couple inquired on Tsoka’s credibility as a marriage officer and they were told that he was not a registered marriage officer.
The couple used $3 800 to prepare for the wedding only to realise it was just a ceremony which was not legally recognised.
The matter was reported to the police leading to Tsoka’s arrest
Online Reporter