Chief plans to raid Tsvangirai home

By Pindai Dube

BULAWAYO – Chief Negomo is planning a surprise raid on Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai residence to attach property as a way of fining the MDC leader for “marrying” in November.

The chief slammed the MDC leader for being “rude” and warned that an ambush was imminent.

Addressing journalists in Bulawayo on Friday Negomo, who fined Tsvangirai two cows and two sheep in December for marrying in November said, he was now ready to attach the Prime Minister’s property for failing to pay fine.

He claimed that he had already obtained a court confirmation from Bindura Magistrates’ Courts to attach the Prime Minister’s property.

“He is very rude and has no respect for me and other traditional chiefs. I will ambush him and attach anything equivalent to the fine of two cows and two sheep. I will either go to his Harare home or to his rural home.

“I have everything in my hands now it’s only that I have been busy in the past recent months, so I couldn’t get time to go there,” said Negomo who was attending the traditional chiefs annual conference which ended in Bulawayo on Friday.

Negomo burst into the limelight in December last year when he became the first Zimbabwe traditional chief to summon a Prime Minister to his court on allegations that the Premier and his “in-laws” had conducted a marriage in November.

He then convicted the Premier in his absence and fined him two cows and two sheep for violating a cultural taboo by paying bride price in November.

The MDC leader had reportedly paid lobola on November 21 last year to the family of Harare businesswoman and socialite Locadia Karimatsenga-Tembo in Christon Bank, near Mazowe.

Negomo, who is the chief for Chiweshe, says the family roots fall under his jurisdiction. The stocky chief said he has more power than the Prime Minister.

“What Tsvangirai should know is that a Prime Minister falls under chiefs, President Mugabe knows that and that is why he respects us traditional chiefs.”

In December the Premier said in a statement that he had terminated his relationship with the 39-year-old Tembo due to interference by Zanu PF and state-spy agency.

The MDC leader said the marriage saga had been choreographed to inflict maximum damage on his person and character for political gain and indicated he did not consider himself married.

Tembo is said to be carrying Tsvangirai’s twins. The last time she was camped at Tsvangirai’s rural home in Buhera after the Prime Minister “ditched” her. Daily News