Adulterous man fined three beasts

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
A CHIREDZI man has been ordered by a local chief to pay three head of cattle as compensation for adultery after he engaged in an extra-marital affair with a married woman whose husband was away at work in South Africa.

Jefias Murenga, 36, of Kamanzira Village whose illicit love affair with Lucia Madhauya, 24, was blossoming and had become the talk of the village, was ordered to pay the woman’s husband Noah Madhauya, 42, three beasts. Chief Gudo told Chronicle that Murenga and Lucia were intimate on several occasions in the woman’s matrimonial bedroom.

“Madhauya left his wife of 10 years to go and look for employment in South Africa sometime in 2012. This is when Murenga proposed love to Lucia and the two would meet at Lucia’s homestead. This happened on many occasions, according to some villagers,” said Chief Gudo.

“Since he left for South Africa, Madhauya did not return until last week upon which he received the bad news about his wife’s shenanigans with Murenga from relatives and other villagers.”

Madhauya is said to have approached Murenga who professed ignorance on the affair and he decided to report the adultery to the chief’s court.

“I presided over the matter. Murenga, who initially denied the allegations later on pleaded guilty due to overwhelming evidence and the court convicted him. The court found Murenga guilty of adultery by taking someone’s wife and ordered him to pay three beasts to Mudhauya for the offence,” said Chief Gudo.

“It is up to Mudhauya to decide the next move about his wife because the case was about Murenga not Lucia. If he comes back accusing her wife of engaging in extra-marital affairs, we will deal with it again.”

Chief Gudo said cases of adultery were worrisome and advised married couples to be faithful to each other in the face of sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV.

“It is incumbent upon married couples to remain faithful to each other. Married people should stick to their partners and desist from engaging in extra-marital affairs. That is the route of STIs and these days it is even worse given the issue of HIV and Aids,” he added.