What they promised each other

The last part of her vows, she wrote on the eve of her wedding, in a heightened emotional state as she anticipated the break of the day that would make a wife out of her. Bona Mugabe felt complelld to add a few more lines to the vows she had made earlier in an effort to capture — and not leave out — all she wanted to promise, Simba Chikore, the man who married her in a sophisticated ceremony followed by a champagne and canapés reception, only the rich and famous can afford.

In a 16 hour wedding which started at 12 noon last Saturday ending at 6 am on Sunday and cost an estimated cool US$5 milllion, there was much fun, pomp and fanfare but one of the highlights of the classy nuptials was the vows the couple made to each other.

Vows are the most personal sacred, romantic, loving and sincere, lifelong promises shared from the heart of one person to another, experts say. Vows are often the part we remember most about a marriage, renewal or reaffirmation of vows, commitment or wedding ceremony. They are emotionally and spiritually binding.

In loving and heartfelt tones, punctuated by the ooohs and aahs from the audience, Simba first, then Bona, articulated their emotions and aspirations in promises to each other in their custom-made vows, to buttress the traditional vows they had said earlier repeating after the Priest. They personalised their commitment to each other in what was perhaps a rare and first public glimpse into the heart and personal world of President Robert Mugabe’s daughter.

The vows, said against a backdrop of romantically lulling music, attracted much reaction from the audience both at the wedding and those who watched on ZTV from home.

While most people the Financial Gazette spoke to were enthralled by the vows, a few people pointed out that Providence, life’s challenges as well as time had a way of deflating hopes and dreams in marriages.

One, Patrick Nhau said, “It almost always begins with a dispensation of sincerity and innocence, then begins to mutate, with time, for better or worse until the beast in us takes over. A lot of prayer, hard work and commitment will be required to maintain the momentum. Such public displays of affection almost always attract the wrath of the devil”

“He is a very expressive young man isn’t he?” commented Vongai Govo Madenyika. “Hope he stays that way over the years. Any woman who has dated has heard something along those lines. At some point in their lives, I want to believe that 99.99% of men really mean it; until all hell breaks loose!!!! But then, I have also seen marriages that were truly made in heaven. So hey, what do I know about love and marriage.”