Church leader sued for bedding relative’s wife

Mutare Bureau
THE leader of Johanne Marange (Simon Branch), Clement Momberume, has been slapped with a $10,000 adultery lawsuit by his Bulawayo-based relative for allegedly bedding his second wife.The man, Jasper Dhliwayo, travelled all the way from Bulawayo to serve Momberume with the summons through the Messenger of Court last week and the parties are expected to appear before a Bulawayo magistrate today.

Both Dhliwayo and his wife, Mavis Sungayi Vilakazi, confirmed the case, while Momberume said it was church politics at play.
In the particulars of the claim, Dhliwayo said Momberume, who usually frequents Bulawayo on church business, came to his house in August 2012 where he was introduced to his second wife, Mavis, who is a nurse.

“After the defendant was introduced to the plaintiff’s wife, defendant then requested for her mobile number and also took her picture,” he said in the papers.

“It is in this regard that the defendant started communicating with plaintiff’s wife. On his visits to Bulawayo, the defendant would not communicate with the plaintiff, but instead would tell the plaintiff’s wife that he would be coming to Bulawayo.

“It was on April 10 that the defendant came to Bulawayo and met with the plaintiff’s wife at TM Hyper and the defendant drove to Greys Inn Hotel together with the plaintiff’s wife. At the hotel, the defendant bought wine and gave plaintiff’s wife. He bought mineral water for himself.

“The defendant started to make some ‘prophecies’ concerning my wife. He started telling her that I am the one who was causing her to have miscarriages whenever her pregnancies reach seven months. Defendant also alleged that I have a big snake which I use to run my business. My wife had three miscarriages before.

“However, I had told my uncle (the defendant) about the miscarriages before. When he was telling my wife about it, it was as if he was making a prophecy.”

Dhliwayo said Momberume allegedly instilled fear in his wife by claiming that he (Dhliwayo) was sleeping with him for ritual purposes.

“He claimed that when I am having sex with my wife, it is not me who will be doing the actual act, but it will be a baboon,” he said.

“He also alleged that I was on ARV therapy. Having convinced my wife with his lies, he later booked a room at the hotel and the two went to that room where they slept together.
“My wife was drunk after drinking the wine bought by Momberume. The defendant slept with my wife on April 10, 2013 and April 12, 2013.”

Dhliwayo said he suspected that something had happened between Momberume and his wife after he started ignoring his calls, but would instead communicate with his wife.

Momberume confirmed receiving the summons from Dhliwayo.