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 Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Court Reporter
PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s wife Locardia Karimatsenga says her husband became mentally unstable as a result of a miscarriage she suffered and now needs psychological and psychiatric help.
Karimatsenga, who married the PM in November last year, says her husband was angered by the miscarriage.
She claims the PM’s plan to wed a second wife he met a few months ago was a sign of a psychological breakdown.
Karimatsenga said this in an affidavit forming part of an urgent chamber application to stop the wedding between the PM and Ms Elizabeth Macheka slated for September 15.
Yesterday, PM Tsvangirai’s lawyer Mr Innocent Chagonda confirmed being served with the summons.
He said the application had no basis at law and was calculated at politically harassing the PM.
“There is absolutely no basis at law for the order sought. The only thing we can think of when looking at the papers, is that it is meant to either politically harass the PM or settle personal issues through abusing the court process.”
Mr Chagonda said his client denies that Ms Karimatsenga was his wife.
“The PM says no to the claims that Ms Karimatsenga is his wife. Even if what she claims is correct, there is no basis for the order sought.
“If such applications are granted, then no one will ever wed in Zimbabwe. Even girlfriends will stop legitimate weddings,” he said.
Prominent Harare lawyer Mr Jonathan Samukange of Venturas and Samukange law firm is acting for Ms Karimatsenga.
PM Tsvangirai, Ms Macheka, Bishop Kadenge of the Methodist Church and Registrar-General Mr Tobaiwa Mudede are listed as respondents.
Bishop Kadenge is expected to solemnise the marriage between Mr Tsvangirai and Ms Macheka next Saturday.
“The miscarriage has mentally devastated him. My husband has not come to terms with it. He is mentally unstable in that he has gone to marry the second respondent whom he met a few months ago.
“He has not even introduced her to his family and his family still considers me as his wife.
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“This shows his mental state and that is why I question his mental ability to even engage in this marriage.
“I believe he is taking his frustrations of the miscarriage by marrying the second respondent (Ms Macheka). I believe my husband needs psychological evaluation and assistance,” she said.
Ms Karimatsenga however, says she still loves her husband and that if he gets psychological assistance he will come to his senses.
“Despite all I have said above, I love him very much and would want to remain married to him. I believe that his psychological problems can be resolved by him seeking counselling from qualified psychologists or mental specialists.
“He is a good man and if he seeks psychological and psychiatric assistance, he can return to his old condition of being a caring and loving husband.”
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Ms Karimatsenga contends that the wedding should not be allowed in circumstances where one party is objecting.
She says if the wedding is allowed, she will lose her rights as a wife to the PM.
“If my husband marries the second respondent (Ms Macheka) next week, by operation of law, I will cease to be his wife. I will not be entitled to any of the privileges and rights that I have been entitled to as a spouse such as conjugal rights, love, affection and companionship.”
Karimatsenga said the PM never divorced her and that he was still her husband.
She says she was not objecting to the PM marrying Ms Macheka under the customary marriage, but she was objecting to marriage in terms of the Marriages Act Chapter 5:11.
Ms Karimatsenga is also claiming US$15 000 monthly maintenance through an application filed at the civil court on Wednesday.
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