Online Reporter
Mthokozisi Ncube
A BULAWAYO widower has been left heartbroken and homeless after his in-laws allegedly locked him out of the matrimonial home he built with his late wife, taking everything from clothes to underwear, in a shocking story of grief turned into greed.
Fidas Sibanda’s nightmare began after the death of his wife, Sibangani Dube, in May 2025. Married customarily for 23 years, the couple had shared a life, a family, and a home. They had bought a stand in Cowdray Park in 2015 and spent years building a house together. But the moment his wife passed away, Sibanda claims the family swooped in to claim “what was theirs.”
“My wife and I bought the stand and built our home, but after her death, her family said they no longer recognise me and claimed the house now belongs to them,” Sibanda told B-Metro.
Sibanda said the family changed all the locks without notice. When he returned to collect his belongings, he found strangers living in his home, leaving him with nothing.
“I left with nothing. All my clothes and household property were taken. They even took my underwear. I believe they are plotting to bewitch me,” he said, the mix of grief and fear clear in his voice.
Adding insult to injury, Sibanda claims the takeover was masterminded by his late sister’s wife Cathrine Nkomo, a prominent pastor in Bulawayo, whose position should have been a symbol of guidance and protection rather than exploitation.
“The fact that she is a pastor makes it even more painful. Instead of helping, she took advantage of my wife’s death,” he said.
The situation is complicated by the fact that the stand and house are still registered in the original owner’s name, meaning the legal transfer into the names of Sibanda and his late wife had not yet been completed.
Sibanda provided B-Metro with documents showing he was legally married to the late Dube, including records from traditional lobola negotiations. He also supplied contacts of the stand’s seller, Patrion Jiyane, who confirmed the sale and said he had never met Nkomo.
“I have never met this Nkomo person who is claiming the house from Sibanda. Sibanda and his late wife bought the stand from my late wife Patricia Hleza. I was present as a witness,” Jiyane said, also producing proof of payment showing the home was bought jointly.
Nkomo, however, denies the allegations, claiming her sister was never married to Sibanda and lived with him in South Africa as her boyfriend. She added that her sister’s “real husband” had died, further complicating the story.
Further efforts to contact her to clarify her story met a brick wall as her mobile continuously rang without being answered.
Zimbabwean law stipulates that land ownership is determined by registration in the Deeds Registry. Section 68F of the Administration of Estates Act protects surviving spouses, giving them the right to remain in the matrimonial home and preventing relatives from unlawfully taking property. Where registration has not been completed, the Titles Registration and Derelict Lands Act allows the High Court to order registration if a lawful interest is proven.
Bulawayo lawyer Matshobana Ncube said Sibanda could also seek a spoliation order, which forces anyone who unlawfully dispossesses property to vacate immediately.
“If granted, the court would restore possession to Sibanda while ownership disputes are dealt with separately,” Ncube said.
Sibanda said this is about more than bricks and mortar. It is about justice, dignity, and the right to mourn without being chased from the home he shared with his wife.
“My story is a warning to all surviving spouses: even after death, opportunistic relatives can turn mourning into eviction.
“Death is painful enough. Losing a spouse should not mean losing a home, a life’s work, or your peace of mind,” he said.
