Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Weekender Reporter
A SHOCKING case has rocked the Odzi community, with a young woman accusing her mother-in-law of orchestrating her alleged rape by her son, tying traditional medicines around her waist against her will, ill-treatment, and blocking her two-year-old baby from receiving medical treatment.
The complainant, Tinotenda Rukweza told Chief Mutasa’s community court that her mother-in-law, Melody Muza, together with her son, Tinashe, and his unnamed sister, tricked her into marriage three years ago when they invited her to their house.
Tinashe allegedly forced himself on her after his unnamed sister locked them inside a room.
“In 2022, I was forcibly married into this family when I was 22-years-old. I was not ready for marriage. His sister called me, claiming that Tinashe was not feeling well, and I visited him. To my surprise, it was Tinashe who came to collect me from the bus stop, yet they were claiming that he was seriously ill.
“My mother-in-law immediately left for Harare, leaving me in the company of my husband and an aunt. My husband invited me into his room, and his sister told me that she was going to the hospital to have her ill child attended to. She locked the main gate, main door screen, and Tinashe’s room. Tinashe proceeded to force himself on me and later told me to return home.
“I told him that I would not return home since he had deflowered me. I only had one dress with me. His sister said she would accompany me to my grandmother’s home to collect my clothes. We indeed collected my clothes and packed them in the absence of my grandmother. I stayed with them and later got pregnant,” she said.
She further revealed in court that Muza, who is a herbalist, against her will and without consulting her family, tied some strings around her waist and placed some herbs and a bottle containing water on her door as a way of protecting her against miscarrying.
With the blessings of her husband, Tinotenda later removed the strings and burnt them, much to the chagrin of Muza.
“My mother-in-law tied some strings, I do not know what they were for, around my waist. She also tied some herbs and a bottle of water at the door, claiming she was protecting me from miscarrying.
“My relatives were not informed of this process. I am a devout Seventh Day Adventist, and their family are also members of that church. I did not know that some SDAs dabble in charms and traditional medicines. During another occasion at church, I informed my mother-in-law that I could not meet my grandmother while I had these ‘things’ on my waist. Together with my husband, we agreed to burn them,” she said, adding that Muza was disappointed by our action, and allegedly claimed that she would give birth to a premature baby.
“My mother-in-law said that since we had burnt her paraphernalia, I was going to give birth to a premature baby, and she will not assist us. I started experiencing abdominal pains while bleeding non-stop.
“My husband had gone to attend musical how in Odzi. My mother-in-law was seated in the dining room watching TV, but she refused to assist me, saying ‘musandinyangadze’ because we had ruined her ‘things’. The following day, she attended a funeral at the church and left me bleeding heavily. I called my grandmother, who is a nurse, and she advised me to go to the clinic immediately. I was accompanied by my husband. My grandmother confronted my mother-in-law and told her, ‘You are leaving someone to die under your watch.’ This is when she came with other women from the church.
“We did not have any money, and we were referred to the hospital as my case was serious. I went with my husband. I gave birth to a premature baby, and it was only my relatives who visited me while I was in hospital. My mother-in-law only visited me on the fifth day, and my husband gave me ‘chifumuro’, and told me that either I or the baby was going to die. I had been booked for a cesarean operation, but after eating ‘chifumuro’, everything changed, and I had a normal delivery,” she said.
She added that Muza had not taken good care of her while she was an inpatient at the hospital for months.
She made a sensational claim that she had once seen Muza urinating in a bucket of water that was about to be used by Tinashe to bath.
“My husband gave me an engagement ring after I delivered a baby boy. I was admitted at Victoria Chitepo Hospital for two months and later transferred to Sakubva District Hospital for kangaroo sessions. She never visited me at Sakubva District Hospital, and my clothes were being washed by my relatives.
“On the day I was released, I informed her that there were some required medicines, and I would not be released without them. I informed her over the phone, and she came with a pastor.
“She did not greet my relatives. She barred my relatives from seeing the child. She took the child and strapped him in the kangaroo way. My relatives had offered to transport me back to Odzi in a private vehicle because of my condition, but we had to use a kombi. She only stayed at home for two days before leaving for Harare and left me alone. I soldiered on, staying in this family,” she said.
Tinotenda said her mother-in-law once ordered her to pick up soil that her husband had stepped on (kunokora tsoka), but she refused.
“One day, I found her urinating in a bucket containing water that my husband was about to use to bathe. I confronted her, and she claimed that this would make my husband rich,” she told the court.
She continued to make several allegations against her mother-in-law, including claims that she was facilitating Tinashe’s relationships with other women.
She also claimed Muza was blocking her from having the child operated on for hernia, insisting that she would use traditional remedies instead.
“My husband refused to move out of her house, saying he was the male child. My husband had a girlfriend called Carol, and he had developed a habit of answering his mother’s calls outside. I forcibly grabbed Tinashe’s phone and found communication between Tinashe and his mother. One message read: ‘Take Mai Tinashe’s clothes, I have entered the ‘dare’. I was so angry with the chats.
“My child was diagnosed with hernia, but she is refusing to have her operated on, insisting that she be administered traditional remedies. Tinashe owes me six months’ maintenance arrears of US$150 per month. Muza has since obtained a peace order against me, barring me from accessing her home. I have moved to Nyazura to stay with my relative. Recently, I visited Tinashe to discuss the child’s health, and instead, he forced himself on me before chasing me away. They never paid anything towards my bride price,” she told the court.
Muza did not deny that she wanted her grandchild treated for hernia the traditional way, but declined ever abusing her daughter-in-law. She did not resapond to the other allegations.
“The summons I was served are saying I chased them away, and she was also divorced. I told Tinashe to move out of my house to stay with his wife. I dragged Tinashe to the civil court since we were not co-existing. I followed the law. I did not chase Tinotenda alone, but together with her husband. What they went on to do is no longer my business.
“Tinashe had to perform community service at Odzi Police Station for assaulting his wife. The other issues she raised, I cannot dispute them because we can spend the whole day discussing them.
“The issues were resolved by family elders. I am a herbalist, and hernia can be treated through traditional means,” she said in court.
Chief Mutasa chastised the family for not prioritising the interest of the child.
He also said Muza had no right to interfere with the decisions made by Tinotenda, especially concerning the child’s health.
He adjourned the matter to the next sitting to allow Tinashe to attend.
“If a person is raped, they should make a prompt report to the police. You are now raising the issue because the marriage is having challenges, yet you left your home on your own to visit him and spent the night together. You went on to steal your clothes behind your grandmother’s back and returned to Tinashe. It means you were in love. However, if you insist you were raped, go and make a police report.
“This main issue is between Tinashe and Tinotenda. There is also a child whose interests must be protected. If Tinashe is not paying maintenance for the child, report him to the police. The grandmother must not interfere in this marriage. Muza is just a herbalist with no medical qualifications, and must not stop her grandchild from having an operation for hernia. Muza must not encourage Tinashe to be wild and pick and drop women.
“The court is adjourned to the next sitting so that Tinashe gives his side of the story. This is where the other issues raised by Tinotenda against Muza will be deliberated,” ruled Chief Mutasa.
