The ManicaPost
Luke Mafere Weekender Reporter —
A RARE spectacle engulfed the streets of Chikanga last Saturday when an officer from the Zimbabwe National Army, Captain Mible Pfungwa Mhlanga who is stationed at KG6 Barracks tied the knot with her long time sweetheart, James Makaya, a teacher at Baring Primary School in Mutare.
Led by the ZNA Brass Band, the procession started at Chikanga Primary School with officers marching to United Methodist Church’s St John’s Circuit where a church service and the routine exchange of vows and nuptials were done.
Several residents were elated saying they had never witnessed a military wedding before. Traffic temporarily came to a standstill along Aerodrome Road as the procession left St John’s to Baring Primary School before proceeding to Murambi for a photo shoot.
The newly wedded couple cruised the streets in state-of-the-art Mercedes Benz temporarily brought traffic to a halt at the intersection of Aerodrome Road and Mutare-Harare Highway as the convoy of the latest range of vehicles made several rounds at the roundabout before proceeding to Murambi.
The same scenario happened as the convey drove back to Baring Primary School where a reception for the couple was held.
Capt Mhlanga is the fourth daughter in a family of four girls and two boys, born to Mr and Mrs Mhlanga Mahoso of Chikwakwa in Chimanimani District, while the bridegroom, Mr James Makaya is the last born in a family of four boys and four girls born to the late Mr and Mrs Makaya of Rusitu in the same district.
The newly wedded couple was ecstatic as their journey of three years had finally come to their desired end and vowed to take up the new journey as a couple.
“We have been dating for the last three years and we are quite elated that we have finally made it in style,” said the visibly ecstatic couple.
Lieutenant Colonel Don Puche who works with Capt Mhlanga expressed his gratitude to the couple, adding that Capt Mhlanga had set a good precedence to other officers in the ZNA by holding the military wedding.
Military weddings are usually confined to Military Cantonment areas, hence they are not so popular with civilians. This explains the huge turnout at the wedding as civilians jostled to get a better view of the drills that were performed at the wedding.
Several officers from Headquarters 3 Infantry Brigade were present to give their colleague a befitting wedding.
