Although it has been widely reported that Bona Mugabe’s husband Simba Chikore is a pilot, possibly for Emirates or Qatar Airways, The Daily Telegraph newspaper has established that he does not work for either and people in the aviation industry in Southern Africa have never heard of him.
Both Emirates Air and Qatar Airlines denied he is an employee.
Little is known of him except that his mother, Christine, is known as a “reverend” in a church group known as the Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa.
Despite Mugabe’s policy of “indigenisation” – ensuring that black Zimbabweans own majority shares in most companies – the wedding planners are white South Africans, who trucked several loads of tables, chairs, decorations, and party paraphernalia into Zimbabwe.
However, the wedding planner refused to erect the high-end marquee large enough to seat 4 000 guests, and equipped with chandeliers and other luxurious fittings, because the ground was too soggy following recent heavy rains.
The only Harare supplier of party gear, Rooney’s, has erected back-up tents and may battle to keep 4 000 guests dry as more rain is predicted for today. Media in Harare say some African heads of state will attend the wedding.
Every individual involved in planning and working at the event was required to sign a privacy agreement. South Africans are even supplying the sound system for the wedding. Daily Telegraph/Saturday Star
