Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Weekender Reporter
A BRAZEN Nyanga man who allegedly tried to turn his uncle’s prolonged absence into a golden opportunity for romance got the shock of his life after he was caught stark naked in his uncle’s bedroom.
The embarrassing incident came to light at Headman Nyamaropa’s community court recently, where Irene Muringami dragged her husband’s nephew, Maxwell Chisvo, before traditional leaders, accusing him of repeatedly making unwanted advances towards her.
According to Muringami, Chisvo was relentlessly chasing her despite several firm rejections.
She said the determined nephew refused to accept “no” for an answer, and even claimed that her husband, Silas Nyajeka, had allegedly authorised him to pursue a relationship with her while he was away.
“I repeatedly told him I was not interested, but he kept coming back. He even claimed that my husband had given him permission to be with me during his absence,” said Muringami.
The situation took a dramatic turn when Chisvo allegedly sneaked into his uncle’s bedroom and undressed, apparently expecting a secret rendezvous. Instead, his plan spectacularly backfired when he was discovered naked, leaving him humiliated and struggling to explain his presence.
“My nephew has been pestering me for a love relationship for a long time. He told me that he was sent by my husband (his uncle), to have an affair with me. He said since his uncle, Nyajeka, works and stays far from me, it was his duty to look after me. He said he is of the same totem as his uncle so there was no problem with us being in an intimate relationship.
“One night he came to my homestead, and I quizzed him on what he wanted, and he boldly said ‘ndauya kuzodya muriwo wasekuru.’ I spurned his advances, and asked him what would happen if the affair was exposed. He said we should keep the affair private and confidential so that my husband and his wife would not find out.
“He would constantly call me over the phone, pestering me. I told him to stop bothering me, and he said I should not be thick-headed. I later informed my sister that my nephew was making unwanted advances,” she told the court.
She further revealed that she also informed Nyajeka of Chisvo’s actions, who then arranged with relatives to set a trap to prove the allegations.
The trap worked when Chisvo asked to visit Muringami at night and she accepted. Chisvo went straight into Nyajeka’s bedroom, hurriedly took off his clothes and dived into his uncle’s bed expecting his first quality time with her — but relatives hiding in the house emerged and caught him naked.
“I informed my husband about his nephew’s actions, and he told me that he never made arrangements with him to be intimate with me while he was away. Chisvo continued calling, and I recorded him. I also reminded him that we were also church mates. He said I should not worry about that because many shenanigans were happening in the church. My husband instructed his relatives to set up a trap to expose his nephew.
“On Sunday, Chisvo called again, begging to come and see me at my homestead. My husband advised me to accept his visit during the night. He came at night and went straight to the bedroom where I was. Chisvo sat on the bed and immediately took off his clothes, remaining with his pants only. He jumped into the blankets. I told him that I was going outside to collect a bucket. Some of my uncles were hiding in the wardrobe.
“I invited my uncles who were hiding outside to get into the bedroom where Chisvo was. They found him in the blankets and questioned him. Chisvo just said ‘arghhh zvakaoma.’ I called my husband and informed him of the developments, and he spoke with Chisvo over the phone. Chisvo apologised, and said: ‘Pane kadhiri kandaizama kuplaza, but ndabatwa. Ndaizama kutsvetera mbuya, forgive me,’” said the woman.
A witness, whose name was not mentioned in court, said he was asked by Nyajeka to trap Chisvo and the ruse was successful. They also recorded pictures and videos while he was in the bedroom.
Chisvo pleaded not guilty to the offence, but in his evidence admitted proposing love to Muringami.
He said it was Muringami who had invited him to her homestead.
He also claimed that Muringami wanted to be paid for intimacy.
“She would constantly ask for fertiliser from me. When she came to collect the fertiliser in my wife’s absence, I proposed love to her. Kwanga kusiri kupfimbana, kwakuri kungotsvetera neshanje. She said she had just experienced a miscarriage, and was not yet fit for intimacy, and would inform me when ready. My homestead is 8km away from my uncle’s so there was no way I would go there for the sake of visiting. She is the one who would invite me.
“One day, she called me to her homestead. I informed her that I had not taken a bath for the last three days since I was in Rusape selling my tobacco. She warmed the water for me, and I took a bath. We spent several hours together that night in the spare bedroom. I asked for intimacy, but she demanded payment. I did not have the money,” he said.
Chisvo left the court in stitches when he described how he was lured into the bedroom, and how Muringami made him believe that she had finally given in to his pestering.
“On the evening in question, it is true that I was caught in my uncle’s bedroom. It was upon her invitation. I left my homestead around 8pm, and she made several calls that night asking where I was, insisting that I should come. She welcomed me into the bedroom. I took off the two jackets I was wearing, and she is the one who unbuttoned my shirt and hung it. She said I should feel relaxed in the house as she took a bucket of warm water from the fireplace to bath.
“I took off my trousers and got into the blankets and slept on my back facing the door. She immediately returned with the bucket full of water and other people followed behind her. The other people started taking videos and pictures while I was naked. I begged them to allow me to put on my clothes. Mbuya said the boiling water was not meant for her to bath, but to pour on me if I attempted to flee. I told her that ‘gona anagona wake, ende mandigona.’ I was trapped and I am not denying it,” said Chisvo.
Headman Nyamaropa found Chisvo guilty of proposing love to a married woman.
He said Chisvo’s moral blameworthiness was high in this case as Muringami was his uncle’s wife.
Chisvo was ordered to pay Nyajeka three beasts and two goats for the offence.
Moffat Mungazi