Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A GRANDPA in his 70s has come under fire for orchestrating a series of infidelities and wrecking marriages — with villagers alleging that he has turned into a local bedroom bully who preys on married women.
The allegations surfaced after the septuagenarian, Amos Mawadza, was dragged before Chief Mutasa’s community court last Saturday by his wife of more than five decades, Margaret Simbi, accusing him of cheating, and humiliating her in public.
Simbi said her husband was dating several married women, with one of his alleged lovers harassing her and their grandchildren.
“My husband has a well-documented cheating record for years, but now it has become unbearable. His lover, who happens to be Charles Mashava’s wife, insults me in public and also harasses my grandchildren.
“Everyone in the village knows she is my husband’s favourite mistress. I am being humiliated daily, while my husband turns a blind eye,” said the heartbroken senior citizen.
Headman Sanyamandwe, who had previously presided over similar complaints against Mawadza, confirmed that the old man recently relocated from Rupinda following similar accusations of wrecking marriages.
He said the matter has caused mayhem in Mawora Village, with villagers describing Mawadza as a homewrecker who has ruined several families despite his advanced age.
“When I dealt with this matter before forwarding it here, it was revealed that in Rupinda, he was involved with several married women, and it was because of that he relocated to Mawora Village in a huff. It was also revealed that some of his own children had died mysteriously after he allegedly dated wives of some people who dabble with spiritual powers.
“The community is worried because, at his age, one would expect him to be a counsellor or adviser, not the source of so much chaos in families,” said Headman Sanyamandwe.
When asked to respond to the allegations, Mawadza denied having an affair with Mashava’s wife, saying the case stemmed from lies and a misunderstanding over an audio recording in his phone gallery.
“I never admitted dating that woman. They are basing all this on an audio they retrieved from my phone, but that message was meant for another woman, not for Mashava’s wife. In the audio, I was telling the woman to give me back my phone because she was failing to meet my demands.
“Yes, I am in love with another woman, but that is because my wife has been denying me my conjugal rights since 2013. She detests me, and refuses to sleep with me. I am a man, and I have needs. What should I do when my wife no longer wants me?” he unapologetically told the court.
However, his own son, Bruce Mawadza, stunned the court when he contradicted his father, confirming that his father was dating Mashava’s wife.
“My father was confronted by Mashava, who is my friend by the way, in my presence over the affair, and he admitted to it. He said the relationship started around March last year. He even bought her a cellphone.
“Mashava’s wife also confessed that they slept together many times, after which her husband declared that he no longer wanted her, and would surrender her to my father. The next morning, Mashava’s wife disappeared from her matrimonial home,” said Bruce.
Mashava, who was also present during the court session, demanded five beasts from the old man as compensation for wrecking his marriage.
“This man admitted sleeping with my wife. I am surprised that he is now shifting goalposts. I have all their messages and voice notes retrieved from my wife’s phone. My marriage collapsed because of him, and I want justice.
“I am tired of wasting my money going up and down over this matter, but I want to warn him that he must stop sleeping with other men’s wives. My wife refused to come to court because she is ashamed, and does not want her name splashed all over the social media, but everyone here knows the truth,” fumed Mashava.
Chief Mutasa ruled that Mashava’s wife and her relatives should be summoned to testify in the next hearing to provide clarity on the matter.
“This is a serious issue that has caused serious rifts in the community. We will call the woman involved and her family to testify before this court. Only then can the truth be fully established,” said Chief Mutasa.
The matter was adjourned to October 11.
