NewsDay has reported that Prime Minister Tsvangirai and his ex, Locadia Karimatsenga-Tembo, on Thursday agreed to have her $15,000 maintenance claim postponed indefinitely

The paper said the parties had 'consented to resolve the matter without the involvement of the courts.' Asked by the magistrate if Karimatsenga was withdrawing the matter, her lawyer Samukange said: "No, but we are seeking the postponement of the matter sine die (indefinitely)."

Tsvangirai's lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu agreed with Samukange's submissions and told the court that the parties had managed to identify the "root of the problem" which they apparently intended to deal with, without the involvement of the courts.

But other media outlets reported the story differently. A South African publication said the two lawyers had asked the magistrate to 'stand down the case' while they tried to thrash out an out-of-court deal.

News agency AFP quoted Samukange saying: "There was no agreement, so the discussions fell away. I don't think there are any chances of further negotiations so we are going back to court next week."

The state owned Herald also said agreement had failed to be reached.

They said that both sets of lawyers refused to divulge the figures involved, but that they had initially agreed on a US$200,000 one-off payment for Locadia.

The Herald went on to say there was a stalemate when Locadia said she wanted US$500,000 and three oxen.
allAfrica