Tsvangirai pays lobola for new wife

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai paid US$36 000 lobola on Monday for his new wife Ms Locadia Tembo at a traditional  ceremony witnessed by over 200 people.

The PM (59) had been linked to several women, but finally settled for the 39-year-old Harare businesswoman for whom he paid the lobola at her father's plot in Christon Bank.

The full lobola list was: Rusambo - $15 000, Kunonga kwana tete -$5 000, Mapfukudzadumbu - $2 500, Dare - $2 500, Makandinzwa nani - $1 000, Chituro - $500, Ndiro $200, Zvibinge - $9 300, Danga–mombe 15, Dzinotsika – 9, Dzemari 5 @ $400, Mombe yamai 1.

The marriage follows the death of the PM's first wife Susan in a car accident in 2009.

PM Tsvangirai paid 10 cattle for Ms Tembo that were delivered to the in-laws as part of the package yesterday.
He was also charged five cattle at US$400 per beast.

Ms Tembo is a sister to Zanu-PF legislator for Goromonzi Ms Biata Beatrice Nyamupinga.

PM Tsvangirai's spokesman Mr Luke Tamborinyoka repeatedly denied that such a ceremony took place.

"If you can believe that my brother, it is the same as believing that former South African President Nelson Mandela is now 12-years-old," he said.

But a visit by The Herald to the Tembo residence in Christon Bank established that the PM had indeed paid lobola.

Ms Tembo's relatives were gathered by late evening and confirmed that Mr Tsvangirai had brought some of his relatives for the ceremony.

Ms Tembo's aunt, Ms Felistas Tsine, said her cousin finally sealed the marriage deal with the PM.

She said a wedding was in the offing, although dates were yet to be decided.

Sources said the wedding bells could be as early as next month.

Ms Tsine said the Tembo family was excited to have the PM as a son-in-law.

"Tapinda, tapinda," she said.

"Imagine if you were in my position. How would you feel? Who would not want to have a Prime Minister as a son-in-law?"

"There are many senators and MPs, but there is only one Prime Minister. We consider ourselves very lucky and we are happy for the two."

Ms Tsine said the ceremony went on well, with the PM behaving as a "cultured son-in-law".

"Abvisa bhutsu akagwesha kubva panze kusvika mumba muno kuti timuone semukwasha wemusha wedu," she said. Murume anga akagadzirira iyeye. Grocery raauya naro raita serichakona kukwana mumba muno."

Ms Josephine Nyakudya, who stood in for the mother, said they felt honoured by the event.

"A lot of things have been written about this relationship, but we have proved people wrong," she said.

"Today we have witnessed the actual thing and we are very impressed."

PM Tsvangirai was accompanied by his young brother Manasa and his uncle Mr Innocent Zvaipa, who acted as the go-between.

Mr Zvaipa last night refused to comment on the proceedings.

Ms Tembo was born in 1972 at Chinotimba Hospital in Victoria Falls when her father worked for a transport company in the resort town.

She attended Queen Elizabeth High School in Harare before enrolling at Speciss College for a Diploma in Business Management.

Ms Tembo is a commodity broker who supplies goods to several chain stores in Harare and South Africa.

She is the fifth born in a family of six, four girls and two boys and has one child, a 16-year old boy, from a previous marriage.

Ms Tembo last year appeared in public accompanying PM Tsvangirai at Joyce Meyer's Festival of Life Conference in Harare.

They were together with the PM's two children Vimbai and Edwin and his secretary, Mr Ian Makone.

Sources said Tsvangirai and Locadia first met in South Africa at the Oliver Tambo International Airport last year.

There were rumours at one time that the PM had married the sister of his late wife, Leah Mhundwa.