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Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
AN elderly Makoni man is up in arms with his daughter’s “parasitic” live-in partner who has never paid a dime as lobola for his daughter, yet he is enjoying the benefits of her sweat.
The father, Amos Masimuse, claims that his daughter, Mirriam, eloped with Lovemore Lamhi soon after completing her university studies. He further claimed that Lamhi has been living off Mirriam’s income ever since.
Masimuse said despite being blessed with three children, Lamhi has not paid a cent as Mirriam’s lobola.
The father and son-in-law duo appeared before Chief Makoni’s community court recently, where Masimuse was demanding US$2 000, seven heads of cattle and three goats as lobola for his graduate daughter.
Masimuse said he was yet to enjoy his investment on his daughter’s education many years after her graduation because of Lamhi.
He said what irks him most was the fact that while Mirriam was in school, he sold many cattle and property to raise her fees.
“I sent my daughter to school with the hope that she would look after me or at least her husband would do so. I even sent her to university and had to sell a lot of cattle to pay for her fees because I love her so much. However, soon after graduating, she eloped with Lamhi.
“As we speak, they have three children together, and she is even pregnant for their fourth child. On that same note, Lamhi has never set foot to my homestead. He does not even know where I stay. This is my first time seeing his face in this court because I want the bride price for my child.
“What angers me even more is that he is enjoying the fruits of my hard labour and reaping where he did not sow. I sent my daughter to school, but he is the one enjoying the fruits of my blood, sweat and tears. She is employed and uses her salary to take care of him and his family while I languish in abject poverty,” said the elderly man.
Mirriam was not in attendance on the day.
Given the chance to respond, Lamhi confirmed that he was yet to visit his in-laws’ homestead with their daughter’s bride price.
He, however, said he is financially incapable to do so, despite his wish to pay the bride price.
“It is my wish to pay the bride price for their daughter, but I am a poor man. I do not have any money and the US$2 000 they are demanding is a lot of money. I honestly cannot raise this money in a year. It is true that we have three children together, but she is not pregnant. It is not like I have been impregnating her for spite. The other children are twins,” he said.
Chief Makoni reprimanded Lamhi for disregarding the land’s customary laws and not paying the bride price for the mother of his children. He advised him to reconcile with his in-laws and pay the lobola.
“What you are doing is against our tradition and customs. Why can’t you just make it official, pay some bride price and be known officially by the Masimuse as their son-in-law?
“Do you not think that this man and his family do not want to enjoy their own daughter’s bride price and marriage benefits? Besides that, do you not know that if both of you die, it is your children and relatives who will suffer because Mirriam is not your relative?” said Chief Makoni.
As a result, the court fined Lamhi three beasts as damages.
Chief Makoni said the fine will not be considered as bride price.
He ordered Lamhi to find a go-between and visit the Masimuse family for bride price negotiations. Lamhi was ordered to pay three goats as masungiro. He was also ordered to have paid the damages and masungiro by the end of this month.
“It is my wish to pay the bride price for their daughter, but I am a poor man.”
Online Reporter