PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s ex-lover Locardia Karimatsenga–Tembo has withdrawn the $15 000 maintenance claim against the MDC-T leader after the two parties reportedly reached an out-of-court settlement. REPORT BY CHARLES LAITON SENIOR COURT REPORTER
Karimatsenga’s lawyer Jonathan Samukange yesterday confirmed the latest developments, but declined to shed light on the finer details of the agreement.
“We have managed to settle the matter, but my client is not at liberty to disclose the terms of the agreement,” Samukange said.
A letter addressed to Tsvangirai by Karimatsenga’s lawyers which was filed at the Magistrates’ Courts in Harare on October 29, 2012, read: “Be pleased to take notice that the applicant (Locardia) hereby withdraws this action and respondent (Tsvangirai) tenders wasted cost.”
Two weeks ago, Karimatsenga’s lawyers and Advocate Thabani Mpofu, who was representing the Premier, told provincial magistrate Reuben Mukavi that deliberations on the maintenance impasse had reached an advanced stage.
Everson Samukange, who was by then representing Karimatsenga, applied for the maintenance file to be held in abeyance to allow the completion of the out-of-court settlement.
The magistrate asked if Karimatsenga was withdrawing the matter, but Samukange said she was seeking the postponement of the matter sine die (indefinitely).
Apparently Mpofu concurred with Samukange’s submissions and told the court that the parties had identified the “root cause” of the problem which they intended to solve without the involvement of the courts.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
The court eventually postponed the matter sine die.
Karimatsenga was confirmed Tsvangirai’s customary wife by the courts after she successfully objected to his marriage to his new wife Elizabeth Macheka in September.
Karimatsenga is reported to have claimed she did not have reservations with Tsvangirai taking a second wife, as long she was recognised as the first wife in terms of customary law.
