BUHERA Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai inherited Leah Mhundwa, the youngest sister of his late wife Susan, int a ceremony held at his Buhera homestead on Sunday.The ritual is part of the Shona tradition of kugara nhaka, or wife inheritance.
The ceremony was attended by several of Tsvangirais relatives and some senior MDC party officials, including Deputy Minister of Mines and Mining Development Murisi Zwizwai and Public Works Minister Theresa Makone.
But a spokesman for the Prime Minister said the relationship was not a romantic one.
James Maridadi said: It is true that a ceremony was held at the weekend, but that ceremony is not about Tsvangirai getting a wife.
In kugara nhaka, a man whose wife has died is given a young woman from his wifes family to marry, or a woman whose husband has died may be given a brother-in-law to marry.
Under the Shona custom, Leah Mhundwa is expected to take care of Tsvangirai and his six children, Edwin, Garikai, Vimbai, Rumbidzai, and twins Milcent and Vincent.
The inheritance ceremony is held a year after the spouses death.
Tsvangirais wife Susan Nyaradzo, who was affectionately known as Amai, died on March 6, 2009 in a road accident that also injured the Prime Minister.
Post published in: News