PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF officials yesterday snubbed Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's daughter's wedding held at the Wild Geese Lodge in Harare.
Mugabe had been officially invited to Rumbidzai Tsvangirai's wedding; she tied the knot with her long-time sweetheart, Calvin Rufaro Nyarota (34), at a private but high profile wedding reception.
Family spokesperson Edwin Tsvangirai yesterday confirmed that Mugabe had been invited to the wedding but did not pitch up.
"Invitations were sent to all arms of government including to the His Excellency," said Garikai. "We only learnt that he was not coming yesterday. We are not aware of any representation he sent."
Efforts to get a comment from Mugabe's spokesperson George Charamba were fruitless.
Rumbidzai (24) is studying for a masters' degree in finance in Australia while Calvin is working as a marketing executive in a banking institution in the same country.
Garikai said it was the first wedding of the children of Tsvangirai and his late wife Susan, who died in a car accident last year.
"We feel proud and honoured by what has happened today," said Garikai. "We feel it is an important milestone in her life and the family's."
Wedding celebrations started at Tsvangirai's official residence in Kew Avenue in Highlands before proceeding to Wild Geese Lodge in Pomona.
The marriage service was conducted by Reverend Josias Mudenda of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, after which, low level classic music was played.
The bride and bridegroom were driven in a hired white Limousine from Sam's Limousine Service and Tours, written on the window panes "Mhururu, Calvin and Rumbi."
Authoritative sources that were part of the wedding preparations said at least 800 guests were invited to the weddings.
Most of the dignitaries were from the two MDC formations.
Among those who attended the function were the two deputy Prime Ministers Arthur Mutambara and Thokozani Khupe, ministers Nelson Chamisa, Jameson Timba and Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU secretary-general Wellington Chibebe among others.
The fleet of state-of-the-art vehicles, ranging from Prados, BMWs, Land Cruisers and Mercs that were parked at the wedding venue were a clear testimony of the high profile people who attended the function.
Early in the day, security guards who manned the entrance in Highlands told The Standard that only invited guests were allowed in the celebration venues.
"We have strict instructions not to allow people without invitations," said one of the guards.
Even some of the relatives of the bride and bridegroom were seen loitering at the entrances after failing to get in.
After getting tired of waiting at the gate, some disgruntled relatives had to sit on the lush green lawn outside the PM's residence.
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Why should President Mugabe attend Tsvangirai's daughter's wedding when it was the sellout (Tsvangi) who caused the expulsion of children of ZANU-PF officials from Australia while his daughter remained to continue her studies? Today she is said to be doing a masters degree while those who were affected by Tsvangirai's stupid decision had their studies disrupted, some permanently. Some have never been able to go back to school after that.
When Tsvangirai visited Australia he campaigned for the expulsion of those innocent children so that they and their parents suffer while his children enjoy the Gog-given right to education. How many of those expelled managed to continue with their studies after Tsvangirai's visit? What became of those who could not secure places anywhere to continue with their studies? Has Tsvangirai ever asked himself how these children feel today for having their study period taken back by a year or two?
Is President Mugabe happy to be part of a wedding of a person connected to that inhuman and barbaric stance taken by MDC-T to have innocent children expelled from school and from Australia because their parents are his political opponents? What wrong did those children commit that Tsvangirai would personally campaign for their expulsion?