Tsvangirai statement on his divorce from 'new wife': Full text

Full statement by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai announcing his divorce from Lorcadia Tembo, whom he married on November 18, 2011:

For the past two weeks, I have been a subject of intense media coverage regarding my relationship with Ms Lorcadia Karimatsenga.

I know that as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, my private life is inevitably a public issue because of the public position that I hold.

However, I feel that the people of Zimbabwe deserve to know my position on this matter, which to a large extent has damaged not only the reputations of the two of us involved in this relationship, but equally so the public image of the Tsvangirai and Karimatsenga families.

Like every cultured Zimbabwean, on Friday, November 18, 2011, I sent a delegation to the Karimatsenga family homestead to perform traditional and cultural rites to formalise this relationship.

I was well-meaning and had good intentions to rebuild my family and start a new lease of life following the tragic passing on of my wife on March 6, 2009.

But since the day I sent a delegation to the Karimatsenga family, everything has been played in the press and I have become an innocent bystander in what is supposed to be my relationship.

I have become a spectator in this relationship and things are happening too fast, on camera and without my knowledge. This has led me to conclude that there is a greater and thicker plot around this issue which has undermined my confidence in this relationship.

Firstly, I was reported to have been there in Christon bank when in fact I was in my office. There have been several developments since that day which have been deliberately planted in the media and which I have had to read in the press; developments that would have taken place without my involvement and knowledge as an interested party.

The "marriage" has been hijacked and there is an apparent active political hand that is now driving the processes. State security agents have also weighed in to force and direct proceedings which has resulted in everything regarding this relationship now taking place in camera, with the public media journalists in tow.

Everything is so well choreographed. The intention is clear: to inflict maximum damage on my person and character for political gain. This has caused me to have serious misgivings as to whether this will be a perfect union that will inspire young couples and reflect marriage as the noble and respectable institution that it is.

My original intention was to make this thing work, to rebuild my family once again and to serve my country with honour and distinction not only as a national leader, but as a respected family man who owned up to his responsibility by following cultural and traditional procedures.

There are many things I have learnt in the process and one is that with the benefit of hindsight, I could have done things differently.

In this regard, I apologise to every single Zimbabwean for any discomfort caused by any of my actions.

I also realised that sometimes when you are searching for a partner especially after losing your wife, there are many stakeholders in the process some of whom have their own ulterior intentions.

Having been married for 31 years, the tendency is to want to use your experience as a yardstick for future relationships. Regrettably, the individuals, like the one in question, may not meet the same standards.

I want to admit that the last two weeks have been particularly bad for me, my children,  my family and even ordinary Zimbabweans who have sought to find meaning to this sordid saga.

Reputations have been bruised and mutual trust upon which such relations are built and maintained has been lost.

My genuine intention has been betrayed and hearts have had to search long and hard to the true meaning of this well-choreographed drama that has now been hijacked to cause political damage on my person and character.

I have followed the traditional and cultural route and I have communicated my position through the same channel to inform the Karimatsengas of my position.

This relationship has been irretrievably damaged to a point where marriage is now inconceivable.

However, I want to assure the people of Zimbabwe that this dark patch in my private life will not dampen my commitment to serve my country and to deliver real change to the people.

I remain unfazed by this sad chapter which will not in any way deter me from my national responsibility to serve Zimbabwe.

I will not expose the people's struggle for democratic change to machinations of infiltration by those that have oppressed the people of Zimbabwe for the past 30 years.

When the time comes, and when the right person fit to be a reliable partner and mother of my children is found, I will advise the nation accordingly.

May God bless Zimbabwe.
 
Morgan Tsvangirai
 
Prime Minister of Zimbabwe