Newlyweds Humiliated In Court

Two couples were stopped from taking pictures after their weddings at Harare Magistrates' Court yesterday, and their cameras were taken away.

Jonabert Jukwa, a freelance photographer, made an appeal to provincial magistrate Dennis Mangosi, who let the couples and Jukwa go at noon.

Jukwa asked to go to the bathroom, so he went straight to the office of the provincial magistrate, Mangosi.

The judge told the police and court staff to set them free.

One of the grooms, who only gave his name as Shoniwa, told H-Metro that when they booked their wedding, they were not told that cameras were not allowed in court.

"My wedding day has been soiled," said Shoniwa.

"We had to be in the courtroom at 6.30 a.m. and had to stay until 3 p.m.

"A police officer took our camera and led us to a manager, who held us in his office.

"This overzealous detention we got has put a damper on my lovely wife's wedding spirit," he said.

Last week, the Harare Magistrates' Court kicked out freelance photographers, people who sold wedding dresses, and people who sold food.