A CHIWESHE chief convicted Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai Saturday and fined him two cows and two sheep for violating a cultural taboo by paying bride price in a forbidden month.
The MDC-T leader last month initiated traditional marriage formalities with his pregnant girlfriend, Locadia Karimatsenga only to pull out of the arrangement blaming interference by political rivals.
He refused to attend Saturday’s court hearing at Gweshe Business Centre with his lawyers dismissing the process as defective and illegal.
However, the Karimatsenga family attended and was also fined two cows and two sheep.
Locadia’s brother told the court the family consluted spirit mediums who cleared to ceremony.
"I consulted the elders and they all agreed that since it was 21 November, the traditional month had started on October 15 and ended on
November 15. We also consulted Mbuya Nehanda's spirit medium in Mazowe and she advised us all was fine," Positive Karimatsenga said.
But Chief Negomo told him there was no authentic Nehanda spirit medium and that they should have consulted his court before accepting the lobola.
The family was also ordered to pay 10 metres of cotton cloth and some traditional snuff in order to appease the Negomo clan spirits.
Chief Negomo dismissed claims the hearing was politically motivated insisting traditional leaders must ensure the country’s traditional culture is adhered to.
"Chiefs are the custodians of the treasures of our culture and cannot fold their hands when citizens, particularly those who occupy the highest office, perform activities that seriously disturb the integrity and dignity of chiefs and subjects," he said.