Wedding cancelled, first wife brings 1-month-old baby at venue

An Ambassador for Christ International overseer is reportedly under probe after he controversially solemnised a wedding in Chikomba last weekend.

The wedding ceremony took place at Nhangabwe that Saturday where the overseer-cum-marriage officer only identified as Dr Munjenje reportedly joined Emmanuel Bizure and Chenesai Murambiwa of New Zengeza 4, Chitungwiza in holy matrimony.

Reports say the wedding ceremony nearly turned ugly when a woman, identified as Auxillia Matimba (39), came forward carrying four-week-old baby allegedly fathered by Emmanuel. However, the marriage officer was unmoved as the ordered Auxillia to leave the wedding venue, it is alleged.

The newly weds are both dental therapists with Emmanuel stationed at Chitungwiza Central Hospital while Chenesai is based at an unnamed hospital in Lesotho. The wedding certificate has since been put on hold after Auxillia approached the officer of the Registrar General in Harare, contesting the credibility of the marriage officer.

The Registrare General's office confirmed  receiving the report through its spokesperson Ken Bvumavaranda.

"We confirm that we received a report where a marriage officer solemnised a wedding in Sadza. It is not allowed to go ahead with the ceremony if anyone presents himself or herself before a marriage officer claiming that he or she is customarily married to the other part. The marriage officer is supposed to stop the ceremony to allow investigations with the parties involved," said Bvumavaranda.

Auxillia said she felt betrayed by Muchenje's conduct claiming she sought permission at Sadza police station to attend the wedding where she was advised not to disturb the proceedings.

"I have a query with the marriage officer who is the guardian of law. He decided to ignore the laws of this country and for the love of money. Muchenje was supposed to inform Emmanuel that there was another Marriage Act that accommodates bigamists like him. Instead he (Dr Muchenje) ordered me to leave the church as he went ahead and joined the two in holy matrimony. After he was informed of my intentions, Dr Muchenje told the guests that no one had come forward after their wedding was publicly announced in church on three occasions."

She added: "He thinks all the people who attend weddings com from his church forgetting that it involves relatives as well. The announcements were made in Mutoko where myself and other interested parties were not present. Emmanuel was persuaded to hold the wedding ceremony in Chenesai's rural home."

Auxillia also accused Chenesai of wrecking her marriage claiming that the two have been seeing each other for sometime.

"After Chenesai left for Lesotho in 2007, Emmanuel came back home and we were blessed with this child that I am holding. Chenesai came back demanding a wedding in a way to leave the country with my husband so that I suffer alone with his three children. Chenesal proposed a date of the wedding on the day she was sure I would be nursing my baby. God is on my side because I gave birth more than a week before the wedding," said Auxillia.

Emmanuel said the Registrar General's office had not yet registered his marriage pending issues with his first wife Auxillia. He emphasised that his reason for the wedding was to get a document that would allow him and Chenesai to work together at the same hospital in Lesotho.

"We wanted the marriage certificate to use in Lesotho where my wife is working so that we will be allowed to work at the same hospital. After a meeting with the Registrar's office the registration was put on hold as we sought to resolve the issue raised by Auxillia. We separated with Auxillia in 2003 and started communicating after Chenesai went to Ethiopia. Auxillia has been taking me to civil courts several times over the upkeep of our children and she took advantage of that while Chenesai was not present," said Emmanuel.

He added: "I never asked her about her boyfriends and because of that she is now using the baby as a tool against my wedding with Chenesai. My overseer Muchenje advised me that there was no problem since I had not married Auxillia legally although we have children. I hope the marriage will be registered soon after resolving the outstanding issues."

When contacted for comment, Dr Muchenje said: "It's true that I was called at the Registrar General's office before the issue was resolved. That lady (Auxillia) wanted to disturb the wedding for no apparent reason and it is now over my brother, be blessed in your prayers," said Muchenje before hanging the phone.