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His statement neither confirmed nor denied that he was married under customary law.
“For the past two weeks, I have been a subject of frenzied media coverage regarding my relationship with Ms Lorcadia Karimatsenga.
“Indeed, as is normal, there was both a positive and negative reaction to this development. Regrettably, both reactions were misplaced.”
He admitted he did have a relationship with Ms Karimatsenga and that at a certain stage, she claimed that she was pregnant.
As a result, he on Friday, 18 November 2011 sent a delegation to the Karimatsenga family homestead to perform traditional and cultural rites.
He then complained that since that day he had been an innocent bystander and claimed there was a “greater and thicker plot” which had undermined his confidence in this relationship.
He denied that he personally went to Christon Bank where the rites were held and said the other inferences were false representations, although giving no detail.
“While I accept that as Prime Minister I live a public life, I believe I reserve the right to define my relationship.
“I have opened up communication lines with the Karimatsenga family and they know my position regarding this matter.
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“I do not wish to publicise the nature and extent of my communication to them. Ms Karimatsenga is also aware of my position on this matter.”
The Karimatsenga family, however, said it wants him to speak personally to them, rather than through envoys.
Mr Tsvangirai claimed there was “an underhand and active political hand” that is now driving the processes and that everything was choreographed “to inflict maximum damage on my person and character for political gain”.
READ PRIME MINISTER TSVANGIRAI’S FULL STATEMENT HERE
“This has caused me to have serious misgivings as to whether this will be ‘a perfect union’.”
He said he was “a respected family man who owned up to his responsibility by following cultural and traditional procedures” and that in the process he realised he could have done things differently.
“Having been happily married for 31 years, I also realised that sometimes when you are searching for a partner – especially after losing your wife whom you so dearly loved – there are many stakeholders in the process some of whom have their own ulterior intentions and agendas.”
He said marriage was a serious proposition arising out of mutual trust, intimacy and respect and that when these values were undermined, that relationship was irretrievably doomed from the start.
“My genuine intention has been betrayed and hearts have had to search long and hard to the true meaning of this well-choreographed drama that has now been hijacked to cause political damage on my person and character.
“As has been evidently demonstrated by these past well-orchestrated events, it would be inconceivable that a normal marriage relationship can be consummated.”
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter