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| Zimbabwe PM Morgan Tsvangirai breaks wedding taboo | Zimbabwe PM Morgan Tsvangirai breaks wedding taboo |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| By Brian Hungwe BBC Africa, Harare | By Brian Hungwe BBC Africa, Harare |
| Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has broken a local taboo and married in November. | Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has broken a local taboo and married in November. |
| Culturally it is feared a November wedding will bring a couple bad luck. | Culturally it is feared a November wedding will bring a couple bad luck. |
| But the PM wed businesswoman Locadia Tembo in a traditional ceremony on Monday, paying a bride price of $36,000 (£23,000) and 10 cows. | But the PM wed businesswoman Locadia Tembo in a traditional ceremony on Monday, paying a bride price of $36,000 (£23,000) and 10 cows. |
| His first wife, Susan, died when they were involved in a car crash not long after he had joined President Robert Mugabe in a unity government in 2009. | His first wife, Susan, died when they were involved in a car crash not long after he had joined President Robert Mugabe in a unity government in 2009. |
| The two leaders signed a coalition pact following the previous year's disputed elections, which were marred by widespread violence. | The two leaders signed a coalition pact following the previous year's disputed elections, which were marred by widespread violence. |
| White wedding request | White wedding request |
| The first hint that Mr Tsvangirai was thinking of tying the knot came at a weekend rally of his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party in Chitungwiza, just outside the capital, Harare. | The first hint that Mr Tsvangirai was thinking of tying the knot came at a weekend rally of his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party in Chitungwiza, just outside the capital, Harare. |
| The MDC leader, 59, joked with the crowd that journalists were always writing about him having girlfriends. | The MDC leader, 59, joked with the crowd that journalists were always writing about him having girlfriends. |
| "But can a bachelor be denied that right?" he asked to a roar of laughter and applause. | "But can a bachelor be denied that right?" he asked to a roar of laughter and applause. |
| Ms Tembo, 39, is a commodity trader and sister of an MP in Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party - a source of controversy among some in the MDC. | Ms Tembo, 39, is a commodity trader and sister of an MP in Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party - a source of controversy among some in the MDC. |
| But most MDC supporters seem happy for their leader, saying that with elections tentatively set for next year, a presidential candidate will benefit from having the help of a wife and companion on the campaign trail. | But most MDC supporters seem happy for their leader, saying that with elections tentatively set for next year, a presidential candidate will benefit from having the help of a wife and companion on the campaign trail. |
| On the streets of Harare there were dissenting views, however, with some people concerned about the issue of a November wedding, which is considered a bad omen amongst Zimbabwe's majority Shona group - of which Mr Tsvangirai is a member. | |
| "As an elder he should have led by example - they are the ones that are telling us not to marry in November," one man told the BBC. | "As an elder he should have led by example - they are the ones that are telling us not to marry in November," one man told the BBC. |
| After paying the bride price, known as lobola, to Ms Tembo's relatives at the traditional ceremony in Christon Bank, about 25km (15 miles) north of Harare, Mr Tsvangirai reportedly requested a white wedding to follow the traditional ceremony. | After paying the bride price, known as lobola, to Ms Tembo's relatives at the traditional ceremony in Christon Bank, about 25km (15 miles) north of Harare, Mr Tsvangirai reportedly requested a white wedding to follow the traditional ceremony. |
| It is this celebration that may adhere more to Zimbabwean tradition, with indications that it will be held over the Christmas holidays. | It is this celebration that may adhere more to Zimbabwean tradition, with indications that it will be held over the Christmas holidays. |
| Jameson Timba, a minister of state in the prime minister's office, told the BBC that Mr Tsvangirai would "make an appropriate announcement on his marriage plans at the right time". | Jameson Timba, a minister of state in the prime minister's office, told the BBC that Mr Tsvangirai would "make an appropriate announcement on his marriage plans at the right time". |