Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A MARRIED man’s inability to resist his married ex-girlfriend led to a scandalous affair that destroyed two marriages in Mutasa recently.
Gilbert Kapungu, the man at the centre of the scandal, confessed to the affair before Chief Mutasa’s community court last Saturday.
Kapungu was dragged to court by Norman Saurayi, who accused him of seducing his wife, Verna Chikomba, through secret calls and love messages.
Kapungu’s ex-girlfriend, Chikomba, had returned from South Africa and rekindled their romance, leading to a bitter dispute between Kapungu and Saurayi.
Chikomba eventually left her marital home as a result of the affair.
Chief Mutasa’s court heard that Kapungu’s actions had caused significant distress to both families involved.
“When she came back, she was more beautiful than before. She was light-skinned, and I fell in love with her,” Kapungu told the court, adding that his feelings for Chikomba resurfaced the moment he set his eyes on her again, despite the fact that both of them were now married.
“I could not control myself. We fell in love again,” he said.
Kapungu, however, attempted to explain how the affair began, insisting that his relationship with Chikomba pre-dated her marriage.
“We were in love before she was married. At that time, she was a single mother,” he said, further claiming he was unaware that she later got married.
“I only heard that she had gone to South Africa. I thought she had gone there for greener pastures. I did not know she was already married,” he said.
Kapungu said their relationship reignited after her return.
He admitted that although he later realised she was married, he continued with the relationship.
“I later found out myself that she was married. But I failed to stop because I loved her so much,” said Kapungu, acknowledging that his messages and calls were found in Chikomba’s phone.
“That is how everything was discovered. That is my truth,” he said.
This was after Saurayi had told the court that he first became suspicious after repeatedly noticing an unfamiliar number calling his wife.
“I first saw this man’s number in my wife’s phone some time ago. He would call her, and every time I picked up, he would remain silent on the other side,” said Saurayi.
When questioned, Chikomba initially downplayed the calls.
“I asked her who he was, and she told me it was her younger sister’s ex-boyfriend,” he said.
However, the husband said the explanation did not match what he later discovered.
“One day, he sent her a message, and I confronted her. That is when I realised she had lied to me,” he said.
Saurayi told the court that from that point, his wife’s behaviour changed.
“She became wayward and stopped listening to me as her husband,” he said, adding that in an effort to uncover the whole truth, he took drastic action.
“I took her SIM card and started communicating with him myself. That is when I discovered love messages between them,” he said, adding that the lovebirds were clever enough to attempt to cover their tracks.
“She later used another number to warn him that he was no longer talking to her, but to me,” said Saurayi.
The messages, Saurayi told the court, confirmed his worst fears.
“They were not normal messages. They were love messages,” he said, adding that the confrontation marked the beginning of the end of the marriage.
“After that, my wife left home. Since December, she has refused to come back,” said Saurayi.
When Chikomba was asked to respond, she offered no defence.
“It is all true. Everything my husband said happened. I have nothing to add,” she said briefly.
Chief Mutasa strongly condemned both Chikomba and Kapungu, saying their explanations showed lack of discipline and respect for marriage.
“Ignorance is not a defence in a court of law. The truth is that you knew she was married,” said Chief Mutasa.
He said Kapungu’s behaviour was even more troubling given that he himself had a wife.
“You have your own wife, yet you chose to chase another man’s wife. That is cheating,” said Chief Mutasa, adding that the case reflects a growing tendency among people to abandon their marriages in pursuit of ex-lovers.
“This is a sad story of two people who were not content with the partners they chose. They went back to their past and destroyed their homes,” he said, warning that rekindling relationships with ex-partners often leads to regret and public humiliation.
“We keep saying it in this court that people must be content with the people they marry. Marriage is not a playground,” said Chief Mutasa.
The court ordered compensation for the damaged marriages.
Chief Mutasa ruled that Chikomba must pay two beasts to Kapungu’s wife as compensation for breaking her marriage.
“You must account for the pain she caused another woman,” the chief said.
Kapungu was also ordered to compensate Saurayi.
“You will pay four beasts to Saurayi for wrecking his marriage,” Chief Mutasa ruled.
The chief said the penalties were meant to restore dignity and serve as a warning.
“This court does not tolerate adultery disguised as love. Desire fades, but the shame remains,” said Chief Mutasa.
