Chief to attach Tsvangirai's property for failing to pay 'marriage' fine

Chief Negomo, Lucious Chitsinde who in December found Tsvangirai guilty of breaking customary laws that prohibit families from performing marriage rites in the sacred month of November, says he will this week move to attach property at the premier's Strathaven home, citing Tsvangirai's failure to pay a fine on time.

Tsvangirai claims he did not marry Locadia, insisting the money he paid was compensation after his lover claimed to be pregnant.

But Negomo insisted the difference was the same since traditional rites were performed at the Karimatsenga family home in Mazowe.

Negomo claims the Karimatsengas are his subjects hence has jurisdiction over them. He fined both families two goats, two beasts, two sheep at his traditional court at Gweshe Business Centre in Chiweshe on December 10, giving them until yesterday to pay up.

Both families are yet to pay the fine, with the Karimatsenga family claiming to be waiting for Tsvangirai to offer resources to meet the fine demand, according to Negomo.

At the court, Locadia was represented by her family members that included uncle, Isaac and brothers Positive and Abraham.

Tsvangirai snubbed the court hearing, and instead asked his lawyers to advise Negomo that the proceedings were illegal.

The Karimatsenga family spokesman Simba Shopera could not be reached for comment as his phone was unreachable.

Luke Tamborinyoka, the PM's spokesperson, has stuck to a statement released by Tsvangirai's Office soon after the news of "marriage" broke out in November denying the marriage.