Marriage certificate causes Christ Embassy Pastor's wedding to be cancelled

AN ADULTEROUS Christ Embassy PASTOR was humiliated on Saturday when his wedding ceremony ended prematurely after his real wife's sister produced his marriage certificate. William Chakabwata, 40, was supposed to tie the knot with his live-in-lover Rhoda Vimbai Mashonganyika (age not established) at Calvary Baptist Church in Mabelreign.

The two are based in Namibia and they had travelled into the country for the wedding ceremony. As they were about to exchange vows William's sister-in-law Emilly Masango exposed the illicit affair as she produced his marriage certificate before the marriage officer. William tied the knot with his first wife Patience Caroline Masango (42) in 1995 under the Marriage Act chapter 37. But the marriage relations between the two turned sour forcing Patience to leave for South Africa.

Left alone, Pastor William took in his family friend Rhoda as a live in girlfriend. William then left for Namibia, leaving Rhoda in his house. Rhoda responded by selling all the household goods and property (most of which belonged to the estranged Patience) to raise money to join William in Namibia. William and Rhoda then decided to legitimise their adulterous affair by coming back to Zimbabwe to tie the knot, well, almost.

All was normal and jolly at the "wedding" UNTIL the presiding marriage officer, only identified as Gakanje, asked the guests if there was anyone contesting the marriage to take place. "I do not know pastor if it is lawful for them to wed when the first marriage certificate I hold here is still valid," asked Emily much to the surprise of guests. Gakanje verified the certificate with the names on his records before asking William and Emily for a meeting.

After the meeting was convened, Gakanje informed guests that the marriage between William and Rhoda had been cancelled.

"After meeting the two, the marriage could not proceed. You may go ahead and enjoy food and be entertained by the bridal team on the dancing floor," said Gakanje. William is a Christ Embassy pastor based in Namibia and a former lecturer at Belvedere Teachers College.

The family representative Alywin Mashonganyika was the first to leave the front seat after the announcement and the bride was stuck with her best girl and best man whispering to each other over the sad news. Alywin told H-Metro that Rhoda's father was at home and he asked her to represent him at the wedding ceremony.

"Actually, Rhoda is my aunt and I was representing her father. "He said he will be coming later unaware of this embarrassing revelation," said Alywin. Relatives asked H-Metro if they may pay them for not publishing the story as it would bring shame to their family. "I know how effective your paper is in stories and pictures. I beg you if you may charge us any amount to avoid publishing this story.

"It will leave us in shame to the community," said one of the relatives. Some of the relatives accused the couple of organising a wedding ceremony when they knew that William was legally married. "I wonder why William as a pastor decided to organise a wedding aware of his marriage complications. Rhoda used to work in the Ministry of Justice and William is a former lecturer at Belvedere College whom we think are learned on such issues," said one of the guests.

Emily told H-Metro that her sister sent her to stop the wedding ceremony. "Patience is busy and she directed me to come here and stop the wedding. "Rhoda was a family friend and she took advantage of the differences between William and Patience to win William's heart. "She must feel the pain today before all the guests and wedding costs she incurred," said Emily.

William confirmed that he married Patience and they were on separation pending cancellation of their wedding. I was shocked to see Emily because she is based in South Africa and I do not know how she knew of the wedding. "It shows there are some relatives who informed my first wife of this marriage. "We are on separation with Patience for a divorce and Emily contributed to my family differences with her sister.

"We will find other ways," said William. When H-Metro left the place, the guests were stuck in the auditorium as the party mood had been killed. Part of the bridal team could be seen leaving the venue to buy food at Mabelreign shopping centre. William has two children with Patience aged 16 and 12 years respectively whilst Rhoda is heavily pregnant.