News / National
Tsvangirai pampers fiancée in New York
16 May 2012 at 21:39hrs | Views
The state media reports that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai pampered his new fiancée Ms Elizabeth Mazvita Gama (nee Macheka) by booking her into a US$5 000-a-night suite at New York's exclusive Waldorf Astoria Hotel for a week.
Ten other family members, including sons and daughters-in-law and officials from his office, spent seven nights at the Double Tree Hotel which charges US$390 per head per night.
Prime Minister Tsvangirai was reportedly granted a US$2 000 discount at the Waldorf Astoria.
Overally, the MDC-T leader was paying at least US$6 900 a day for his private trip in New York, translating to US$48 300 for accommodation only for the week-long stay, a figure that shoots up if the cost of return tickets to various destinations is factored in.
These figures exclude other people in the delegation like security personnel.
The PM has his own security aides on top of Government security details. He grabbed headlines last year when he allegedly married Ms Locadia Karimatsenga Tembo, whom he "divorced" within 12 days.
The PM had been linked to several women in different cities prior to that ephemeral "marriage".
Mr Tsvangirai's spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka, who was not part of the New York trip, confirmed it but claimed the accommodation figures were exaggerated.
Situated along Parktown in midtown Manhattan, the Waldorf Astoria New York Hotel boasts of combining "art deco splendour with the latest technologies and modern amenities".
According to its website, the hotel offers: "Luxurious guest rooms and select, spacious suites. Cheerful bedrooms, oversized marble bathrooms and original art deco motifs (which) give our rooms a delightful residential ambience.
"The Waldorf stands as a unique dining destination, with four distinctive restaurants, three lounges, and, of course, 24-hour room service. Superior hotel amenities and services include booking privileges at the incomparable Guerlain Spa at the Waldorf Astoria.
"Hotel guests are encouraged to explore the hotel, a New York City landmark, considered an extraordinary living art deco museum.
"We are dedicated to the elegant service traditions of the world's grand hotels. We hope to do everything in our power to ensure your future experience here is delightfully memorable."
The hotel occupies the 27th to 42nd floors of the Waldorf Towers and has a total 1 416 guest rooms, including 303 suites, all featuring original art deco motifs.
Each room is decorated individually; no two are exactly alike. The suites cost between US$2 430 and US$7 115 per night.
According to our New York sources, Mr Tsvangirai travelled with Elizabeth Mazvita Gama (according to her passport) and his children Edwin, Garikai, Vincent, Vimbai, Millicent and Rumbidzai.
Also in the delegation was sons-in-law Batsirai Gava and Kelvin Nyarota.
Daughters-in-law Lillian and Diana also joined the trip.
Officials from his office were Mr Lazarus Muriritirwa, Mr Dennis Murira and Ms Rose Chimedza.
"The Prime Minister spent a good seven nights in Manhattan where they enjoyed a time of their life as a family staying at top-notch hotels in New York," a source said.
The source said while the visit was officially recorded as private, Mr Tsvangirai took time to meet his "golf partners for serious business".
"We understand he wanted the family to gel with his wife-to-be amid rumours that his children had raised concern on the bed-hopping reports.
"It looks like the Prime Minister has made up his mind on Elizabeth and is going the extra mile to please her while making sure that she gets to know his family."
The source said Mr Tsvangirai's "golf partners" could be his sponsors ahead of general elections set for this year.
It could not be established who was footing the bills.
PM Tsvangirai left New York on Tuesday evening (afternoon in New York) for Vienna, Austria, while his fiancée headed back home.
His children also left New York the same day for their various stations across the world.
Mr Tamborinyoka said there was nothing to the visit than being a private journey.
"I, however, doubt the figures being thrown around, but I am aware that he was having a private visit."
He said PM Tsvangirai's fiancée had already met the family officially at the engagement party.
Ten other family members, including sons and daughters-in-law and officials from his office, spent seven nights at the Double Tree Hotel which charges US$390 per head per night.
Prime Minister Tsvangirai was reportedly granted a US$2 000 discount at the Waldorf Astoria.
Overally, the MDC-T leader was paying at least US$6 900 a day for his private trip in New York, translating to US$48 300 for accommodation only for the week-long stay, a figure that shoots up if the cost of return tickets to various destinations is factored in.
These figures exclude other people in the delegation like security personnel.
The PM has his own security aides on top of Government security details. He grabbed headlines last year when he allegedly married Ms Locadia Karimatsenga Tembo, whom he "divorced" within 12 days.
The PM had been linked to several women in different cities prior to that ephemeral "marriage".
Mr Tsvangirai's spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka, who was not part of the New York trip, confirmed it but claimed the accommodation figures were exaggerated.
Situated along Parktown in midtown Manhattan, the Waldorf Astoria New York Hotel boasts of combining "art deco splendour with the latest technologies and modern amenities".
According to its website, the hotel offers: "Luxurious guest rooms and select, spacious suites. Cheerful bedrooms, oversized marble bathrooms and original art deco motifs (which) give our rooms a delightful residential ambience.
"The Waldorf stands as a unique dining destination, with four distinctive restaurants, three lounges, and, of course, 24-hour room service. Superior hotel amenities and services include booking privileges at the incomparable Guerlain Spa at the Waldorf Astoria.
"Hotel guests are encouraged to explore the hotel, a New York City landmark, considered an extraordinary living art deco museum.
"We are dedicated to the elegant service traditions of the world's grand hotels. We hope to do everything in our power to ensure your future experience here is delightfully memorable."
The hotel occupies the 27th to 42nd floors of the Waldorf Towers and has a total 1 416 guest rooms, including 303 suites, all featuring original art deco motifs.
Each room is decorated individually; no two are exactly alike. The suites cost between US$2 430 and US$7 115 per night.
According to our New York sources, Mr Tsvangirai travelled with Elizabeth Mazvita Gama (according to her passport) and his children Edwin, Garikai, Vincent, Vimbai, Millicent and Rumbidzai.
Daughters-in-law Lillian and Diana also joined the trip.
Officials from his office were Mr Lazarus Muriritirwa, Mr Dennis Murira and Ms Rose Chimedza.
"The Prime Minister spent a good seven nights in Manhattan where they enjoyed a time of their life as a family staying at top-notch hotels in New York," a source said.
The source said while the visit was officially recorded as private, Mr Tsvangirai took time to meet his "golf partners for serious business".
"We understand he wanted the family to gel with his wife-to-be amid rumours that his children had raised concern on the bed-hopping reports.
"It looks like the Prime Minister has made up his mind on Elizabeth and is going the extra mile to please her while making sure that she gets to know his family."
The source said Mr Tsvangirai's "golf partners" could be his sponsors ahead of general elections set for this year.
It could not be established who was footing the bills.
PM Tsvangirai left New York on Tuesday evening (afternoon in New York) for Vienna, Austria, while his fiancée headed back home.
His children also left New York the same day for their various stations across the world.
Mr Tamborinyoka said there was nothing to the visit than being a private journey.
"I, however, doubt the figures being thrown around, but I am aware that he was having a private visit."
He said PM Tsvangirai's fiancée had already met the family officially at the engagement party.
Source - Herald
