HARARE - Environment and Natural Resources minister Francis Nhema is now officially divorced from his wife Louise after High Court Judge Hlekani Mwayera granted an order authorising the break-up.

Nhema’s wife, Louise Sehlule Nhema, daughter of the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo, instituted the divorce proceedings, which were not opposed.

Louise is the second daughter to the late national hero. He was married to Nhema for the past 20 years.
The case was heard yesterday after being deferred from December 20 last year to enable the wife’s lawyer to make necessary amendments.

Mwayera had ordered Louise’s lawyer Addington Chinake to make corrections to the consent papers on some amendments that were written in pen.

Chinake had also been asked to correct the spelling of Nhema’s wife since the one on the court papers was not tallying with the marriage certificate.

Mwayera also requested Chinake to add the age of Nhema’s minor child, before an order was to be granted in terms of the draft.

Chinake had proposed the matter be postponed indefinitely but Mwayera said it was not possible since only minor issues needed to be attended to given that the divorce proceedings were by consent.

The application was then granted yesterday after Mwayera was convinced the papers were now in order, following the necessary amendments. - Staff Writer