A HARARE woman, who married two Nigerians concurrently, on Monday escaped a jail sentence after she was fined US$100 for bigamy.

Mazuru was convicted on her own plea of guilty when she appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Shelly Zvenyika facing bigamy charges.

Ms Zvenyika sentenced Mazuru to a three months wholly suspended jail term on condition that she does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.

Fadzai Mazuru (26) of Number 5 Rhodes Mansion corner Herbert Chitepo and Sam Nujoma Street married the first man in 2004 and the second one the same year both under Chapter 5:11.

The complainant in the matter was Mr Daniel Gozhora, a marriage officer in the Registrar General's Office.

It was the State's case that on September 8, 2004, Mazuru entered into a marriage with Ajaero Uwaoma.

The marriage was solemnised at the Harare Magistrates' Court where Mazuru made vows and swore before a magistrate.

The marriage was registered under marriage certificate number 2256/04.

Prosecutor, Ms Auxillia Mangwaira told the court that Mazuru then married Goue Nwudoh before terminating the first marriage.

The second marriage bore marriage certificate number 3245/04.

Cases of women who are paid to enter into marriages of convenience with Nigerians who want to secure Zimbabwean residence permits are on the increase, a senior immigration official said recently.

Assistant Regional Immigration officer Mr Francis Mabika gave the example of a Nigerian who put a local woman on a US$80 monthly salary for entering into a marriage of convenience.