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Blessings Chidakwa, Midlands Correspondent
A recent church gathering in Mberengwa turned into a mass marriage ceremony after seven couples who were caught dating during the event were forced to tie the knot.

Bishop Ananias Taiwana, leader and founder of Sungano yaVapostori International said the church event which occurred this month had its share of enforced marriages.

“We started our annual conference as usual and we probably knew that some boys and girls would take this as an opportunity to have courtship and indulge in love affairs, so l informed the church elders to make sure that anyone caught in the act must be forced into marriage with the girl concerned.

“Since we started the church in 2012, this is the first conference to record such a huge number of couples caught in love affairs within a four day gathering,” he said.

The church secretary general Mr Rupiya Mandaza said they forced the couples into marriage after realising that some men were just coming to the gatherings to indulge in sexual activities before dumping the girls.

“We know most of these guys in the church just use these girls who they do not intend to marry in the end. On the first day of the gathering we announced the first couple, while the rest were married on the next day,” said Mr Mandaza.

He added that the seven couples whose names and ages he refused to divulge, will be wedded during another church gathering in October which will be held in Masvingo.

Mr Mandaza defended the move saying it was aimed at reducing the abuse of girls as well as unwanted pregnancies during church gatherings.

He said the couples are now staying together and their parents have agreed with the bishop that they should get married.

The couples could not be located for interviews.

@Honblessings