‘Tsvangirai to share property with Locardia’

customary marriage then nothing bars him from marrying another woman.”
A former University of Zimbabwe family law lecturer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said PM Tsvangirai was legally a polygamist.

“Paying lobola for Locardia makes her Tsvangirai’s wife under customary law.
“It is registered and valid for all purposes of customary law and certain general laws like maintenance, guardianship and so on.
“The only aspect where it is not recognised in general law is that you cannot go to court for divorce.

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“At the moment because of the legal finding of the law, Tsvangirai is legally a polygamist,” said the source.
However, MDC-T spokesperson and lawyer Mr Douglas Mwonzora dismissed the analysts’ notion that Mr Tsvangirai was married to two wives.
He said Mr Tsvangirai’s legal team had prepared an appeal at the Supreme Court.

“He is not a polygamist because he is married to one wife. The other person, to the declaration of the court, is being challenged because an appeal has been prepared for the Supreme Court.

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“The effect of an appeal is to suspend the decision appealed against. In essence, the finding that there was a customary marriage is what is being challenged. This means that the status of the claimant is suspended. Therefore the Prime Minister is not a polygamist,” he said.

PM Tsvangirai’s “wedding” on Saturday turned into a bride handover ceremony after the presiding priest at the event declared that his marriage to Ms Macheka was improper.

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The ceremony was held without a proper exchange of marriage vows following a court decision to cancel the couple’s marriage licence.
The presiding priest, Father Patrick Makaka of the Roman Catholic Church, told guests that the event was not an official wedding, but a traditional occasion where Ms Macheka was being handed over to the Tsvangirai family.

He said another ceremony should be held to officialise the marriage.
The PM may face criminal charges for lying under oath about his marriage to Ms Karimatsenga when he sought a marriage licence to wed Ms Macheka.
Under Zimbabwean law, perjury, which is defined as knowingly lying under oath, is a criminal offence punishable with up to five years imprisonment.