Zimbabwe PM wins 'sacred month' marriage suit appealBy KITSEPILE NYATHI in Harare | Wednesday, April 25  2012 at  20:36

A Zimbabwean High Court judge has nullified a traditional court ruling to fine Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai for his alleged marriage in the “sacred month” of November last year.

Mr Tsvangirai, a widower, reportedly paid $36,000 and 10 cows in bride price for a Harare businesswoman, Ms Lorcadia Tembo, during a traditional ceremony on November 22.

He ended the marriage after 12 days, accusing government intelligence operatives of interference.

Chief Negomo, who has links with President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party, dragged Mr Tsvangirai to his traditional court and convicted him for going “against the Shona culture”.

Traditionalists say tying the knot during the ‘sacred month’ invited bad luck.

The ruling was confirmed by a magistrate and the chief had threatened to attach Mr Tsvangirai’s property before the judgment was sent for a review at the High Court.

Judge Justice Samuel Kudya Wednesday set aside the chief’s verdict.

“Justice Kudya confirmed the senior magistrate’s finding that the Chief’s court and outcomes that he purported to have made are null and void and have no legal force or effect whatsoever,” the PM’s lawyer, Mr Selby Hwacha, said.

He said the judge noted that Mr Tsvangirai did not fall under the chief’s jurisdiction as he did not live in his area.

Mr Tsvangirai has been linked to several women since his wife died in a car crash soon after he joined an inclusive government with President Mugabe in 2009.

Last week, he engaged a Harare woman, Ms Elizabeth Macheka, the daughter of a senior Zanu-PF official.