PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe and his equally excited wife Amai Grace Mugabe gave their daughter, Bona Mugabe-Chikore, US$100,000 and a 55 herd of cattle at her lavish wedding to Simba Chikore in Harare on Saturday. The newly wedded couple was showered with gifts that came to hundreds of thousands of US dollars in cash, cattle and all manner of goodies from relatives, friends and visiting Heads of State and Government among other VVIPs.
The two were joined in the holy matrimony by the Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Church, Father Kennedy Muguti at the first family's residence in Borrowdale, Harare. Chikore, who is said to be 37 years old, described Bona as a God fearing woman whose patience is testimony of God's faith and love to his people. "Your love has healed me... Now I have you...I prayed for a wife... and wow, did God answer me or what" said Simba. Bona paid tribute to his husband, Simba, whom she said has made her a stronger woman. She added that she is more than excited to spend her whole life with him. The gifts were unveiled at a cocktail after the official ceremony and they surely lived up to the event's billing as the wedding of the year. President Mugabe and Amai Mugabe gave the new family US$100 000 – and 55 head of cattle. "Ini naAmai takati vana vari kutifadza ava, ngatiedzeiwo kuvatsvagira zvatingavatsvagire, mombe tinadzo tovatsvagira, takati we should give them not less than 55. Financially, we know they (Simba and Bona) have spent quite a lot on their wedding.
We have spent quite a lot too, tine ma expenses akati kuti zvedu but we have put aside a bit of money so we're giving them US$100,000 for that," the 90-year-old father, President Mugabe, said. In addition to President Mugabe's US$100k, a local mining company that preferred anonymity blessed the president's daughter with another US$100,000. Other wedding gifts that were made public included: * US$50,000 from Businessman Ihmad Ahmed. * US$35,000 from Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and his wife. * US$25,000 and 10 herd of cattle from one Mr Gabriel Mugabe and his wife. * US$2,000 from Public Service Minister Nicholas Goche. * US$10,000 from ZRP Commissioner-general, Augustine Chihuri. * US$2,600 from ZAOGA (FIF) Qatar, where Mr Chikore is a senior elder * Gift hamper worth US$4,000 from Zambian President Mr Michael Sata and his wife Dr Christine Kaseba.
The couple can now boast of a large herd of cattle as many other guests, including Mr Leo Mugabe and other family members, also presented them with beasts. Numerous other guests also came forward with cash gifts of US$1,000 and above, while many others made gifts of livestock. Meanwhile, Bona Mugabe's brothers, Robert Junior and Chatunga, who were part of the bridal team, spoke glowingly about their sister at the wedding dinner on Saturday night. Robert described her as a focused individual. "Everything she did was amazing. She always pursued her goals and I am happy that she found herself a good man. Ouma and Simba, I wish you all the best," he said. Chatunga said that he was first critical of Simba but later warmed up to him. "At first I was like, 'Who is this guy who wants to take my sister?' Then the other time he came kumusha for Christmas and I began to realise that he is a cool guy," he said.
