In-laws confronts Tsvangirai over lobola payment denials

THE Karimatsenga family has asked Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to explain why he is denying having paid lobola for their daughter Locadia.

Sources said the in-laws yesterday sent a delegation to seek an explanation from the PM over the matter.

The delegation met the PM, his secretary Mr Ian Makone and spokesperson Mr Luke Tamborinyoka.

The Karimatsenga family says it felt ridiculed by the PM's denials through his lieutenants saying this was tarnishing their image and "dragging our name into the mud".

They said the impression being created by the PM was that the Karimatsenga family stage-managed the payment of lobola.

They challenged Mr Tsvangirai or members of his family - especially his young brother Manasa and uncle Mr Innocent Zvaipa - to publicly deny that he paid lobola for their daughter.

Manasa and Mr Zvaipa were part of the delegation that visited the Karimatsenga plot in Christon Bank to pay lobola.

Sources said Mr Tsvangirai promised that his wife and himself will soon clear the air.

They said there was communication going on between the two families and a proper announcement will be made "at the appropriate time".

Ms Tembo's uncle, Mr Simon Karimatsenga, told The Herald at the family's rural home in Chiweshe yesterday that they were surprised by the PM's behaviour.

"I was phoned as the eldest uncle . . . you know that her father died sometime ago and we went to Harare for the payment of the lobola," he said.

"Everything was done according to tradition and I, as the head of the family, can testify that Mr Tsvangirai indeed paid lobola for my niece.

"I never heard that Mr Tsvangirai was paying the money and the cattle for other things except for lobola."

Mr Karimatsenga said Ms Tembo was by yesterday still with her aunts and performing traditional rituals at her new home.

Her other uncle, Mr Isaiah Karimatsenga, confirmed the marriage, but refused to give details.

"Kuroorana is a private affair," he said.

"Akaroora neakaroorwa wacho ndivo vachataura. Iwe pawakaroora zvakambonyorwa munewspaper here? Saka unodirei kunyora zvavamwe.

"Regai vanhu varoorane murugare."

Sources said the Tsvangirai family actually approached the Karimatsenga family last Friday indicating its desire to pay lobola the following day.

But the Karimatsengas told them that the notice was too short and set the date for Monday this week.

But investigations by The Herald revealed that the PM could be undecided following reports that he is dating another Harare woman whom he promised to marry.

The woman at the centre of the controversy was only identified as Elizabeth, who is said to run a boutique at a shopping centre in Harare's Avenues area.

"You will be surprised to learn in a few days that Tsvangirai has paid lobola for another woman," said a source.

"That woman is a daughter of a Zanu-PF Central Committee member and they are hotly in love."

The sources said Elizabeth, who stays in Mt Pleasant, was actually married to a Harare businessman who owns several service stations in the city.

They said the PM was made to understand that Elizabeth was not married and was being put under pressure to marry her after reports that he paid lobola for Ms Tembo emerged.

PM Tsvangirai's payment of lobola for Ms Tembo has stoked controversy after denials by his lieutenants.

The lieutenants insist the PM paid damage to the Karimatsenga family after impregnating their daughter out of wedlock.

But neither the PM nor any of his relatives have spoken on what actually transpired.

Many have wondered why a family affair such as payment of lobola is being handled by MDC-T party officials.

The case has also been marred by politics, with reports indicating that a clique in the MDC-T's top hierarchy was against the PM marrying Ms Tembo.

She is a sister to Zanu-PF legislator for Goromonzi Cde Biata Beatrice Nyamupinga.