Magistrate cancels Tsvangirai marriage licence
A Harare Magistrate on Friday cancelled Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s marriage licence to Elizabeth Macheka. This after two women Locardia Karimatsenga Tembo and South African national Nosipho Regina Shilubane filed their objections with a marriage officer.
Karimatsenga claimed she was still customarily married to Tsvangirai and her lawyer Everson Samukange said the ‘Magistrate has recognised customary marriage is lawful impediment’ to Tsvangirai’s plan to wed Elizabeth Macheka.”
Tsvangirai’s team immediately rushed to the High Court asking for a review of the ruling by the Magistrate. Analysts believe they have a good chance of success because because the same High Court on Wednesday found that even if Ms Karimatsenga was customarily married to the PM, such an unregistered marriage was not legally valid.
She said the legislature only recognised the marriage for certain purposes. Justice Antonia Guvava pointed out that the loophole was affecting thousands of women in Zimbabwe and that the legislature should do something to harmonise the marriages.
She said the majority of women in Zimbabwe were customarily married and that they were facing legal challenges in cases of divorce, inheritance and others. Justice Guvava decided not to grant an order of costs against Ms Karimatsenga for suing the PM and Ms Macheka.
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