Zimbabwe Mugabe / Tsvangirai coalition on romantic dispute !

Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has reportedly paid an estranged lover who blocked his September wedding over $300,000, leading her to drop a $15,000 monthly maintenance claim from the courts. The state-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation reported that, among other things, Mr Tsvangirai agreed a cash payment of between $280,000 and $300,000 to end their relationship Ms Locardia Karimatsenga Tembo’s lawyers confirmed on Thursday that they had withdrawn the case, but they refused to disclose the amount paid to their client. Mr Tsvangirai, who lost his first wife in an accident in 2009, was forced to cancel his wedding to Ms Elizabeth Macheka on September 25 after Ms Tembo proved in court that they were customarily married. The customary marriage in November 2011 lasted less than 24 hours after President Robert Mugabe’s fierce rival claimed that state security agents were manipulating their relationship. He had reportedly paid over $30,000 in damages to Ms Tembo’s family for impregnating her, but the Prime Minister denied paying bride price or seeking the Harare businesswoman’s hand in marriage. Another South African woman, Ms Nosipho Shilubane, also emerged at the 11th hour seeking to block the high profile wedding, arguing that Mr Tsvangirai had promised to marry her. However, the claim was thrown out by the courts for lack of merit. But it was Ms Tembo’s case that threatened to torpedo Mr Tsvangirai’s political career as his opponents used it to maximum effect to question his suitability for high office.The out of court settlement will remove a distraction for the Prime Minister as he prepares to revive his rivalry with President Mugabe for elections set for March next year. The woman’s lawyer, Mr Jonathan Samukange, confirmed that the case had been withdrawn following a deal with Mr Tsvangirai’s lawyers.“Yes the matter is now settled,” he told the state owned Herald newspaper. “We agreed on a once off payment but I cannot disclose the amount.” In her maintenance claim filed in August, Ms Tembo had demanded $15,000 a month, arguing that Mr Tsvangirai had introduced her to an expensive lifestyle. Last week, there were media reports that she was now demanding demanding $500,000 and three oxen in a once off payment while the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader offered $200,000.