(Last Updated on September 11, 2012 by Editor)
ZIMBABWE – PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says the High Court has no jurisdiction to deal with the urgent application that seeks to stop his wedding on Saturday.
In the preliminary points raised by the PM’s lawyers before the main interdict application today, the premier contends that his estranged partner, Ms Locardia Karimatsenga Tembo, could have exhausted the other remedies provided for in the Marriages Act before approaching the High Court.
Advocate Thabani Mpofu, instructed by Mr Innocent Chagonda of Artherstone and Cook, appeared for PM Tsvangirai and his new wife Ms Elizabeth Macheka. Mr Everson Samukange, Mr Dumisani Mthombeni and Mr Tafadzwa Hungwe of Venturas and Samukange represented Ms Karimatsenga.
The PM argues that the law provided that any objections to the wedding should be sent to the magistrate who issued the marriage licence. After receiving the objection, the magistrate in the current case, Mr Munamato Mutevedzi, would conduct an inquiry.
“From the foregoing, it is my respectful submission that this honourable court has no jurisdiction to entertain this application for an interdict at this stage. The relevant legislation set out clearly the procedures to be taken by any person who intends to object to the solemnisation of a marriage in terms of the Act. “Upon receiving any objection, the magis trate who issued a marriage licence or a marriage officer who intends to preside over the marriage is obliged at law to hold an inquiry into the grounds of the objection.”
“It is my view that the applicant should have exhausted the remedies availed to her in the Act before approaching this honourable court,” Mr Tsvangirai stated in his opposing affidavit. The lawyers argued that there was no good reason for the High Court to exercise its discretion in hearing the matter.
They also argued that the fact that the PM was denying ever marrying Ms Karimatsenga was a dispute of fact among other facts that could not be argued on the papers through an urgent chamber application. The lawyers argued that the matter was not urgent and that it should be dismissed.
It was submitted that Ms Karimatsenga knew of the Premier’s relationship from as far back as April this year when the couple engaged for marriage and that she had ample time to challenge the union.
The lawyers argue that there was still ample time for Ms Karimatsenga to follow the Act in seeking remedy.
According to the papers, the relief being sought by Ms Karimatsenga was not competent. Ms Karimatsenga, Mr Tsvangirai says, had no legal standing to seek to bar him from marrying Ms Macheka. Speaking after the court hearing one of Ms Karimatsenga’s lawyers, Mr Mthombeni, said the preliminary point should be dismissed.
He said Ms Karimatsenga was not aware of the issued marriage licence and that there was no way she could have followed the channel of complaining to the magistrate. “We did not know about the licence. Our client also got to know about it today. Everything was being done secretly so the High Court has jurisdiction to hear the case,” said Mr Mthombeni.
Mr Mthombeni said Ms Karimatsenga’s legal team managed to establish the course of action and that Mr Tsvangirai was truly married to her. He said the matter was urgent in that the wedding was set for Saturday. He said the wedding, if allowed, would indirectly divorce Ms Karimatsenga from the PM. Mr Mthombeni also said there were no disputes of fact in the case and that it should be rightly dealt with on an urgent basis.
Justice Antonia Guvava yesterday reserved ruling on the preliminary points to today at 3pm.
Even if the customary marriage between the PM and Ms Karimatsenga really existed, the lawyers said there were no chances for the granting of the order sought.
“The applicant ought to know and understand that customary law union by its nature, is not a marriage but rather a union that has been recognised for certain purposes,” read the opposing papers. PM Tsvangirai denied ever marrying Ms Karimatsenga arguing he only paid damages after she fell pregnant.
“I must state that as far as I am concerned, there is no valid Customary Law union or marriage between me and the applicant.
“In August 2011, the applicant told me that she was pregnant and I told her in no uncertain terms that I was unable and unwilling to marry her,” he said.
The PM said Ms Karimatsenga requested him to dignify her by taking responsibility for the pregnancy.
He then sent some representatives to conduct the appropriate customary ritual before the Karimatsenga family members.
During the court proceedings yesterday Mr Samukange on behalf of Ms Karimatsenga unsuccessfully sought to produce a video clip of the alleged lobola ceremony before the court heard the preliminary points.