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. 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. Give yourself a headstart: Get full access to The Africa Report on all your devices.
Subscribe now. Several figures Digital subscription. The magistrate ruled on Friday that Tsvangirai could not to go ahead with a formal wedding after a jilted former lover filed a suit against him claiming the two were still married under Zimbabwe's tribal laws.
The court held that Tsvangirai paid a traditional bride price for the woman last year and therefore was married to her. Tsvangirai, 60, and Elizabeth Macheka, 35, exchanged vows but did not sign the register. Many believe it will bring bad luck. The fine has been imposed by a traditional African chief, who gave Tsvangirai 30 days to pay, according to state radio. But Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change, locked in a power struggle with president Robert Mugabe , says it does not recognise the chief's powers.
Just 12 days later Tsvangirai, who lost his first wife a in car crash in , announced that the relationship had been irretrievably damaged after it was "hijacked" by political foes and state security agents.
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