A Kingdom Glory Ministries pastor who solemnised a wedding without a marriage officer’s certificate was yesterday sentenced to an effective eight months in jail.
Prince Emmanuel Tsoka (35) even demanded a suit to wear at the wedding from the couple and got one.
He also asked for $50 on the pretext it was meant for the processing of marriage certificates at the Registrar-General’s Office, which certificates never came.
Tsoka pleaded not guilty to the charge, arguing that he only blessed the couple but he was convicted after a video showing him solemnising the wedding was played in court.
At the wedding, Tsoka introduced himself as the marriage officer before getting down to business.
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| BEWARE... Bogus Marriage Officer Jailed... |
The magistrate, Mr Tendai Mahwe, had no kind words for Tsoka whom he accused of having been under the influence of some intoxicating substance during the wedding celebrations.
“After watching the video, the court found out that you were not sober on the day, I believe you were under the influence of some intoxicating substance. How can a church pastor sing the ‘sele’ chants in church, a chant which is popular in pubs. I doubt if you are really a pastor because cases of fake pastors are now on the rise,” he said.
Before passing sentence, Mr Mahwe advised Tsoka to go for community service vetting since he intended to order him to perform community service but Tsoka arrogantly told him that he did not have time to perform community service hence he should be ordered to pay a fine.
In response Mr Mahwe said: “I gave you an option to do community service but you refused. You did not even show contrition. Taking into consideration that you defrauded the couple, the court is left with no option except to give you a custodial sentence. The couple lost a lot of money and resources and because of your conduct, they have to start again and prepare for a proper wedding.”
Mr Mahwe then sentenced Tsoka to 12 months in prison and set aside four months on condition of good behaviour.
After the sentence was handed down, Tsoka raised his hand and told the court that he was now remorseful and pleaded for forgiveness arguing that he was a breadwinner.
However, Mr Mahwe said: “The court is like an aeroplane, once it takes off, it takes off, and I do not reverse my sentence.”
“Am I allowed to appeal?” Tsoka asked.
“Yes, it is your constitutional right,” Mr Mahwe replied.
Ms Francisca Mukumbiri prosecuted.
The complainants, Simbarashe Kachenautowa and Talent Matanhire, were customarily married in September 2014 and subsequently engaged Tsoka to solemnise their white wedding.
Meanwhile, a man and a woman who were among the four revellers who allegedly stripped naked during a beer drinking binge at Mverechena Night Club were yesterday ordered to perform 140 hours of community service.
Misheck Leon Chapita and Alice Muramba were facing charges of public indecency.
Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe sentenced the duo to six months in jail each but suspended two months for five years on condition that they did not commit a similar offence.
The remaining four months were also suspended on condition that the duo performs 140 hours of community service.
In passing sentence, Mr Mahwe said what the two did was undignified.
Allegations are that on November 13 at around 10pm, Chapita and Alice, together with their four accomplices who were last week fined $50 each, were having a beer binge at Mverechena Night Club at Zimbiru Business Centre.
It is alleged that the six people started to act rowdy, but they took their rowdiness too far as they went on to perform a striptease show.
The court heard that some of the ladies stripped down to their panties and bras, while exposing their breasts. Some revellers were offended by the porn show, prompting them to report to the police.
The court heard that by the time the police arrived, the culprits had already left the stage and mingled with other revellers, making it difficult to identify them, before leaked photos led to their arrest.
