Ex-wife blocks tycoon's wedding

A WEDDING ceremony for a prominent Victoria Falls businessman and his new lover turned into a circus on Friday as his former wife tried to block the nuptials at the magistrates court.  

Loveness Nyoni, 50, ex-wife of businessman Misheck Mpofu, stormed the courtyard accompanied by her daughter, Monalisa, a few minutes before the new couple made their vows intending to disrupt the proceedings but could not get access to the courtroom.

It is a tradition that before a couple takes its vows, a marriage officer asks those in attendance if there could be anybody with objections and Nyoni had planned to use that opportunity to stop the proceedings.

Prosecutors cleverly saved Mpofu, 58, the owner of a popular flea market, Emaplankeni, from embarrassment when they advised Nyoni to go and file a report of adultery to the police and she obliged.

On her return from the police, she found Mpofu having already tied the knot with his third wife, Chandu Precious Nyathi, 46, before magistrate Sharon Rosemani.

"I was determined to stop the wedding so we can resolve our issues first as suggested by the magistrate recently. He did not follow procedure," said a fuming Nyoni.

"Initially I explained to Sibindi (Thembinkosi, MDC-T provincial chairman who was best man) but he would not listen. Prosecutors threatened that I would be arrested and told me to go to the police who advised me to rush back and stop the wedding but I was late."

In tears, Nyoni added, "That was the procedure I knew but I suspect prosecutors had connived with Mpofu to make sure I don't get into the courtroom."

Mpofu, who runs other businesses in Manoti, Gokwe and Manjolo in Binga, separated with Nyoni of Mkhosana Township, 10 years ago and recently she dragged him to court claiming maintenance for their minor daughter.The two were customarily married and Nyoni says Mpofu owed her for contributing to his business empire, which she said grew when the two were still married.

The estranged couple had one child but Mpofu had two other children with a different woman.

Nyoni vowed to fight to the end until Mpofu rewards her for breaking his promise to marry her.

"All I want is for him to give me back my share of resources.

"He became a councillor in 1999 through my efforts as I would fast for 21 days with Morgan Nyathi of Flames of the Holy Spirit," she said.

"We opened Emaplankeni together when it was still called Victoria Falls Auction Centre as I cleared the site with Sonboy, his son from the first wife with whom I was in good books. Emaplankeni bore Manjolo, which later led to the opening of the Manoti business and he should pay me for my contribution."

A mother of five, Nyoni is the same woman who made headlines a few years ago when she claimed to have married Jesus.

She described the wedding as a scandal and claimed Mpofu was still holding onto her national identity card.

"He is still keeping my ID and why would he do that if he knows he no longer loves me. I want my daughter to get a passport so that she can travel to visit just like her siblings do but he does not want to help her apply for it," Nyoni said.

Mpofu was recently ordered to pay $160 per month to her as maintenance and to pay his daughter's school fees which Nyoni said he was yet to honour.

Efforts to get a comment from Mpofu were fruitless.