Morgan Tsvangirai's wife overstepped mark

Morgan Tsvangirai's life has been a roller coaster since the death of his wife Susan.

He became Prime Minister, remarried after some liaisons and lost an election.

The latest episode relating to separation with his new wife, Elizabeth is only a sequel of the MDC leader's turbulent private life.

That he aspires to be our next leader is about the only legitimate reason we should subject him to scrutiny rather than celebrate his personal misfortunes.

For a presidential aspirant, it is most unfortunate that negative private affairs about him have often spilled into to the public domain to the detriment of his political career.

Sometime last year, I wrote that Tsvangirai had become too susceptible to attack from his opponents and he should consider stepping down as MDC leader.

Nonetheless, we should not regard the latest revelations of marital rupture owing to a "medical issue" or "bedroom issue" as personal misdemeanour.

The so-called medical condition, a source of derision in some circles, would not be something he deliberately invited upon himself nor has it any bearing on his capabilities as leader.

It is his political and personal judgements - some argue his marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of a Zanu PF senior official, is a reflection of such impaired judiciousness - that have spawned misgivings about his suitability as a national leader.

In this latest episode, there is cause to sympathise with him if reports about the medical issue are true. It is a measure of our own civility as a society how we treat victims of medical misfortune.

In explaining the estrangement, Elizabeth overstepped the mark, contradicting herself in the process.

She stated she did not want to discuss her private life in public.

Yet she went on reveal a sensitive matter. The publishers of the original story say they hold details of the medical issue.

She went further on  to state, rather unnecessarily, that Tsvangirai's visits to a well-known Nigerian prophet had been motivated by this condition.

Tsvangirai has pointed out he is in good health although it is unclear whether that also discounts the "bedroom issue."

The story about his estrangement was fleshed up with comments of an unnamed source suggesting Tsvangirai wanted to marry another woman, Leah Mhundwa, a relative of his late wife, in order to resolve the "problem."

If that is the case, Elizabeth has legitimate reasons to be angry. But unless the idea had been actuated, one would also ask whether mere contemplation to marry another woman is sufficient cause to desert a husband.

Furthermore, it is most objectionable for anyone to go public with another's medical condition.

Medical conditions are private matters. If medical staff are bound by confidentiality on medical issues, it should not be acceptable for anyone either to make such revelations.

Elsewhere, Elizabeth and publishers of the story would have teetered on the brink of legal infringement if the revelations are true.

In most States, you can be sued for publishing private facts about another person, even if those facts are true, unless the issues are of any legitimate public concern.

It would be stretching the imagination to argue that Tsvangirai's "bedroom issue" is a matter of any legitimate public concern.

It is noted, however, that the  publishers have been responsible enough not to reveal the purported affliction. Still, the publicity has triggered public speculation.

Elizabeth will probably argue she had to deflect public criticism that she had walked out on her husband because her wish to become First Lady had failed.

Of course, she has the right to respond to claims she considers false.

Furthermore, if medical conditions become determinants of whether matrimony subsists or not, disregarding the avowed maxim of "in sickness and in health," then a lot of marriages would fall apart.

Marriage would become a woefully weakened institution.

Finally, we should subject Tsvangirai to moral and political scrutiny as one aspiring to lead us. If he has suffered medical affliction, we ought to sympathise with him.

It is, however, most regrettable that his private affairs have frequently attracted media attention at the expense of the the party's programmes.