In 1850, a leader of the Basel Mission Committee, broaching the issues raised by Catherine's unattached status and the fact that she was a single mother bringing up two children, actually suggested marriage with one of the German missionaries as a possible solution, which is what happened, in 1851, when a relatively new recruit to the mission, Johannes Zimmermann, decided to marry Catherine. He did so without first seeking the permission of his superiors, however, which caused consternation as it was the Mission's policy to prohibit its personnel from indulging in intimate interracial alliances, adopting African customs and dress and exchanging gifts with or entering into financial or commercial relationships with 'natives' (Miller, 1994, p. 132). In the end, the marriage was accepted on account of Zimmermann's leadership qualities and his usefulness to the Mission's cause - he is described as possessing a commanding personality and great powers of persuasion and audacity (Miller, 1994, p. 141); also, Catherine was considered 'more "cultured" than other indigenous African women and the Mission's local authorities were aware that she was contemplating a transfer to the Methodist mission if her situation with its own missionaries became untenable. Basel Mission headquarters in Switzerland clearly disapproved of Zimmermann's errant beliefs and actions and decreed that he was 'no longer to consider himself a European citizen and [...] must never expect to bring his wife or children to Europe'. Until May 1872, when Zimmermann retired in good standing from the mission, Catherine and her children were therefore unable to accompany him to Europe, such as in 1862, when he was recalled to Basle for 'retraining'.