PM’s marriage: Priest speaks out

did not make full disclosure to him on his marital status with his wife Ms Locardia Karimatsenga Tembo.
In an interview yesterday, Fr Makaka said he would not have presided over the ceremony if he was given adequate information regarding the dispute.

The PM’s marriage licence with Ms Elizabeth Macheka was cancelled last week after Ms Karimatsenga successfully objected to its issuance by a Harare magistrate.

High Court judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu upheld the lower court’s ruling when Mr Tsvangirai’s legal team made an urgent chamber application challenging it.
Mr Tsvangirai was forced to hold a traditional marriage ceremony with Ms Macheka.

The move officially made Ms Macheka the premier’s second wife, after Ms Karimatsenga.
Speaking at his Mt Pleasant parish, Fr Makaka said there was nothing amiss at the weekend ceremony.

He insisted that Saturday’s event was not a marriage ceremony, both in terms of the church and the law.
He, however, said Mr Tsvangirai had not told him that he had paid lobola to Locardia’s family.

“I didn’t have that information about lobola. He had always told me that he was finished with Locardia.”
The priest said he would not have participated in the ceremony if he knew that Mr Tsvangirai had paid lobola to Ms Karimatsenga’s family.
“It would not have even started because our church does not allow a man to marry more than one wife.”

The priest was, however, not comfortable to confirm that Mr Tsvangirai “misled” him into believing that there was no lobola paid.
“I would not want to use that word, but, yes, I was not aware that there was lobola paid. He (Mr Tsvangirai) said he paid damage, so he was through with Locardia,” he said.

Fr Makaka said he did not have regrets about officiating at the ceremony because he “did it in good faith”.
He said the reason for his involvement was that Elizabeth was a member of his parish.
“I have a Roman Catholic Church baptism certificate for Mr Tsvangirai from Mutero Mission in Gutu and Elizabeth is one of my parishioners here.

“When these court cases started, all these arrangements had been done. We asked how deep this involvement was and we only heard that he had paid damage,” he said.

Fr Makaka said he made it clear at the ceremony that it was not a marriage ceremony in terms of the law or in terms of the church.
The clergyman said what gave him confidence to preside over the marriage ceremony was the existence of Certificate of Freedom issued to both couples by the Master of High Court.

He said in terms of the law, the certificate is issued when one produces a death certificate of his previous partner, an indication that he was now free.
“There was a Certificate of Freedom indicating that they were free to marry and that you are not committing bigamy,” he said.
He said both Ms Macheka and the PM showed him the certificates after the death of their previous partners.

The PM lost his wife Susan in a road accident in 2009.
Fr Makaka said he had not performed marriage vows consistent with a real marriage in terms of the law because of the cancellation of the marriage licence.
He, however, said he would marry the couple once the legal hurdles the PM is dealing with were concluded.

“I am still waiting, until the dust has been cleared, we can legalise the union.”