Moffat Mungazi
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A WATSOMBA man has dragged his long-time friend before Chief Mutasa’s community court, accusing him of betrayal after he allegedly took the woman he was set to marry within a month.
What began as a seemingly steady relationship has now unravelled into a bitter love triangle that has shaken the foundations of their once-close friendship.
The complainant, Shakemore Macheka, told the court that his friend, Harry Surudzo, had betrayed his trust by snatching the woman he already regarded as his wife, leaving him humiliated and heartbroken.
However, the court session unknotted claims of marriage, conflicting testimonies, and accusations of theft, jealousy and betrayal.
Macheka told the court that the widowed Surudzo, whom he described as his best friend, had moved in with the woman he was preparing to marry. The woman was only identified as Shantel.
“He was my best friend, but is now staying with my wife. He is staying with her in Watsomba. After work, he goes to my wife’s rented apartment.
“He is paying for the rentals. When I brought this matter before this court, he moved her to Hobhouse in Mutare,” said Macheka.
He insisted that Surudzo took advantage of his trust.
“I confided in him, and instead of advising me, he decided to snatch my wife,” he argued.
But Surudzo denied stealing his friend’s wife.
“I did not steal anyone’s wife. I am not hiding anything. I have never wronged Macheka. There was no marriage between them, and I do not even know where Shantel is.
“I was just helping them get back together as I was their mediator. However, when all that failed and she moved out, he claimed that I was the one who was now renting her a new place,” Surudzo said.
The woman at the centre of the feud, Shantel was in default, and Chief Mutasa summoned her for her side of the story.
Shantel quickly corrected the narrative, and told the court that Macheka had exaggerated and misrepresented their relationship.
“We were in a relationship, yes, but we have since parted ways. We were just cohabiting. We were never married. He does not even know any of my family members. He keeps calling me his wife, but we were just cohabiting,” she explained.
She insisted that Surudzo never proposed love to her behind Macheka’s back.
“Surudzo was his best friend. We would go to his place for counselling when we had misunderstandings.
“He never came to my house alone, as Macheka is insinuating. He only came with Macheka when they tried to convince me to reconcile with him,” she said.
In a surprising twist, Shantel revealed that the fallout began when Macheka and his brother were accused of stealing from Surudzo’s shop.
“Macheka and his brother worked for Surudzo. When they stole from his shop and the brother was fired, Macheka accused me of snitching on them,” she said.
“He thought I had snitched to Surudzo about the theft, which I did not. I was actually faithful to him, but he accused me of cheating because he thought I was siding with Surudzo,” he said.
Macheka dismissed her allegations, but as the court session progressed, he quietly shifted his earlier claims.
After repeatedly insisting that Shantel was his wife, he later conceded that they were not legally or traditionally married.
He told the court that although no bride price had been paid, he considered their relationship a marriage-in-waiting.
“I was thinking of marrying her in the immediate future. Although I never paid any bride price, I took her as my wife because I already had the money that I wanted to use to marry her.
“She eloped to me, but later ditched me for Surudzo.
“Some of her relatives knew that I was staying with her. Even if she goes missing or dies, her family will come looking for me. I know I have every right to claim that she is my wife,” he said.
Chief Mutasa, however, was clear when he told Macheka that a relationship, no matter how serious, does not constitute marriage.
“She was not your wife. You never paid any bride price. This matter does not hold any water because you are not known officially by her family or anyone else as a son-in-law,” the Chief ruled.
He went on to explain that even formal courts would not recognise Macheka’s claim.
“Even if you go to the civil court, nothing will be awarded to you because she was just your girlfriend, not your wife. All you can do is sue her for damages of cheating on you or wasting your time as your girlfriend, not as your wife,” he said.
Chief Mutasa ended with a stern reminder about the nature of relationships outside marriage.
“This woman is still in the streets and not in your home. Please note that,” he stressed.
Despite the explanations, Macheka appeared unconvinced.
He stood by his belief that he had a rightful claim over Shantel, insisting that emotional investment should count for something.
“I was getting ready to marry her the following month, and so I consider her my wife. If there are any damages from Surudzo in the form of cattle, they should be given to me, she is my woman,” he insisted.
Chief Mutasa dismissed the matter.
Online Reporter