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General hand solemnises marriage

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A 61-YEAR-OLD general hand at Harare Magistrates’ Court has been dragged before a Harare magistrate facing allegations of presiding over a marriage ceremony under the guise that he was a magistrate.

A 61-YEAR-OLD general hand at Harare Magistrates’ Court has been dragged before a Harare magistrate facing allegations of presiding over a marriage ceremony under the guise that he was a magistrate.

By Xolisani Ncube

Edmond Mboko appeared before magistrate Takunda Mtetwa facing allegations of solemnising a marriage between Karen kokore and Nigerian Callistus Egomoli in 2006 so that the foreigner could enjoy his stay in Zimbabwe.

The State represented by Gayton Vhiriri alleges that in March 2006, Mboko presented himself to Kokore and her husband as magistrate Olivia Mariga and performed the marriage ceremony before issuing out a marriage certificate registration number 594/2006.

The State also alleges that Mboko, who works at the magistrates’ courts as a general hand forged the signature of Mariga to issue out the marriage certificate.

It is alleged the matter came to light last December when Kokore approached the High Court seeking to divorce her Nigerian husband when she was informed that their marriage certificate was not registered with the registrar of marriages.

After investigations by the Registrar-General, it was then discovered that Mboko had cheated the couple that he was magistrate Mariga.

When he appeared before Mtetwa yesterday, the State opposed the involvement of Harare lawyer, Ralph Maganga as defence counsel arguing that he was involved in the divorce case of Kokore who is the key State witness.

But the lawyer defended himself saying he was clean and his representation of the accused does not prejudice the State in any way.

The court will rule on the objection by the State on Wednesday.