Mugabe gives newly wed daughter $100,000, 55 head of cattle
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe on Saturday gave his newly wed daughter and her husband $100,000 and 55 head of cattle as presents, it has emerged.
The 24-year-old Bona and her pilot husband, Simbarashe Chikore, tied the knot Saturday at a colourful ceremony held at the First Family’s plush private residence in Harare.
South African President Jacob Zuma, his Zambian counterpart Michael Sata, DRC’s Joseph Kabila, and Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea attended the colourful ceremony.
Also present were several wealthy local and foreign businessmen who included South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe.
Journalists from outside Zimbabwe and local private media organisations were barred from the ceremony.
State media on Monday said the 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.”
Gifts galore
President Mugabe reportedly told the guests that he had agreed with his wife Grace that they could not give the newlyweds less than 55 head of cattle.
“Financially, we know they (Simba and Bona) have spent quite a lot on their wedding,” he was quoted as saying by the Herald newspaper.
“We have spent quite a lot too; we have expenses but we have put aside a bit of money so we are giving them $100,000.”
An unnamed local mining company also gave the couple another $100,000.
President Nguema and his wife weighed in with $35,000.
President Sata and his wife Dr Christine Kaseba gave the couple a gift hamper worth $4,000.
A businessman, Ihmad Ahmed, presented $50,000 while a relative of President Mugabe gave them $25,000 and 10 head of cattle.
The Zimbabwe police presented the newlyweds with $10,000 cash.
Several other family members and relatives also presented the couple with gifts of $1,000 in cash and above as well as cows.
President Mugabe married his second wife, Grace in 1996 while in his Seventies. They have three children.
His only child with first wife Sally died while he was in detention during Zimbabwe’s struggle for independence. Born in Ghana, Sally became Zimbabwe's First Lady until her death in 1992.