Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Weekender Reporter
A COMMUNITY court has ordered an Odzi man to pay six beasts in compensation and fines after finding him guilty of engaging in an adulterous relationship with a married woman and subsequently taking her away from her visually impaired husband.
The matter came before the traditional court after Emio Sananguro of Gandidzanwa Village accused January Garikai of wrecking his 26-year marriage by eloping with his wife.
Sananguro said Garikai had taken advantage of his visual impairment to pursue a relationship with his wife and eventually move in with her at Kennard Farm Compound, where the pair have allegedly been living together for the past two weeks.
Sananguro said Garikai had become a regular visitor to his homestead long before the woman left the matrimonial home.
“January Garikai took my wife and has been staying with her for the past two weeks. He took advantage of my blindness to do that. He frequently visited my home to see my wife and is now living with her at Kennard Farm Compound,” he said.
A visibly distressed Sananguro said he and his wife were legally married under the Marriage Act and produced a marriage certificate as evidence.
“I married my wife at the Civil Court under Section 115 of the Marriage Act. I have brought a copy of the marriage certificate as an exhibit. I am not sure whether Garikai owns any livestock at the compound where he is staying,” he said.
Garikai did not attend the hearing despite reportedly being properly served with court summons.
After considering the evidence presented, Chief Makoni ruled in favour of Sananguro, finding Garikai guilty of adultery under aggravating circumstances.
In delivering the judgment, Chief Makoni said Garikai had exploited Sananguro’s disability to lure away his wife, leaving him without a spouse after more than two decades of marriage.
“Garikai took advantage of Sananguro’s condition to lure his wife. As matters stand, Sananguro no longer has a wife,” ruled Chief Makoni.
The court ordered Garikai to compensate Sananguro with five beasts and imposed an additional fine of one beast.
He was also directed to pay Sananguro’s legal costs amounting to US$80.
For failing to appear before the court, Garikai was further fined three goats.
