MDC accuse ZANU PF of abusing chief in ‘marriage’ saga

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai

By Lance Guma
08 December 2011

The MDC-T on Thursday accused ZANU PF of abusing a traditional chief, in their attempts to drag Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai through the mud over his aborted marriage to Harare businesswoman Locadia Karimatsenga Tembo.

The state owned Herald newspaper reported that on Wednesday Chief Negomo (Luscious Chitsinde) ‘summoned’ the PM to appear before his traditional court in Chiweshe on Saturday to answer charges that he violated a customary rule by allegedly paying ‘lobola’ during the sacred month of November.

But in a strongly worded statement the MDC-T condemned what it called: “The awkward and legally foolish behaviour of Chief Negomo in trying to summon President Tsvangirai. What is clear is that ZANU PF and State security agents are abusing this chief as part of their propaganda war against the Prime Minister.”

Arousing suspicion is the fact that Chief Negomo delivered the summons himself at the PM’s Charter House offices in Harare and was accompanied by his aides, identified by the Herald newspaper as Watson Baziwell and Cairo Mhandu (it was not clear if this Cairo Mhandu was the same person as the ZANU PF MP for Mazowe North, Retired Major Cairo Mhandu).

The MDC-T said: “Having been booked at a five star hotel in Harare, Chief Negomo with the help of other ZANU PF activists sought to serve the summons himself on the Prime Minster. Perhaps the incompetent people behind this sting operation forgot to advise the chief that the judge does not serve summons himself but that summons are served by a messenger of court.”

The MDC-T said the behaviour of the chief showed that he was failing to appreciate, “the difference between his role as a traditional leader from his role as a ZANU PF activist.”

At the end of last month Tsvangirai said his relationship with Locadia had been irretrievably damaged and that marriage was inconceivable. He cited a hidden political hand that he said was ‘driving the process’ and that everything was well choreographed, including Locadia going to his rural home in Buhera without his knowledge, while accompanied by state media journalists.

On Wednesday the same thing happened when Chief Negomo invited the state media to capture, in pictures, the serving of the summons on Tsvangirai. The MDC-T reminded the chief that he had no jurisdiction over the PM since Tsvangirai does not come from Chiweshe, the home area of the Karimatsenga family.

Instead they asked why the chief had not acted on political violence in his area.“Chief Negomo must be aware of the murders and rapes and other barbaric acts committed by ZANU PF in 2008 in his jurisdiction. He is no doubt aware of acts of arson committed by ZANU PF activists against MDC people. Why has he not summoned any of them to his court if he is a man of justice? The only conclusion is that he approves of the murderous activities by the ZANU PF militia and junta.”

Commenting on the ‘marriage’ the state media keeps writing about, Tsvangirai’s spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka said: “The Prime Minister has made clear his position on this matter. As far as we are concerned, this is now a closed chapter. The drama may continue, but his position will never change.”