Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
AN estranged woman has accused her husband of denying her conjugal rights for years — admitting that even though he suffers from erectile dysfunction, he remained sexually involved with several other women.The allegations emerged at Chief Mutasa’s community court, where Nyarai Mugejo also revealed that she had financially supported her estranged husband, Elias Sagunda, throughout their marriage, paying his legal fees, caring for his children from another marriage, and even funding their education.
The dramatic case pitted Sagunda against his alienated wife, Mugejo, as the two appeared before the traditional court to finalise their acrimonious separation.
Sagunda had approached the court seeking the eviction of Mugejo from their rural home, arguing that they were now divorced, and she has no right to remain on his property.
“I went to my in-laws with a dollar that was meant to serve as a divorce token, but they refused to accept it. I went back home with my wife.
“Later, her family followed me and asked if I was serious that I no longer loved her.
“I said yes, and they asked her to pack her belongings so that they could take her back home, but she refused, saying she still had crops in the field and would only leave after harvesting,” explained Sagunda.
He told the court that after harvesting, Mugejo still refused to leave the homestead, even though her family had later accepted the divorce token.
However, Mugejo painted a different picture of the relationship, claiming that she had endured emotional neglect, sexual rejection, and betrayal despite standing by her husband during his most difficult times.
“We got married in 2007. I stayed with his children from another marriage starting in 2010. In 2012, one of his children became wayward, but I took care of them all as if they were my own,” she told the court.
Mugejo said her husband denied her conjugal rights early in the marriage, leaving her confused and heartbroken.
“My husband would deny me my conjugal rights for three months. We had no intimacy at all.
“He always claimed to have erectile dysfunction, but I later realised that it only happened when he was with me. When he was with his girlfriends, he would be very active,” she said tearfully.
The court was told that despite her husband’s neglect, Mugejo worked tirelessly to keep their household afloat.
“I had a flea market stall, and I used that money to help him. He was facing criminal charges in court at the time, and I paid for his lawyer until the matter was over.
I also raised money for his child to sit for ZIMSEC Ordinary Level examinations. I looked after him when he had nothing.
“I loved him so much that I even worked as a domestic worker at someone’s house to make sure he and his children were catered for,” she said.
Mugejo said instead of appreciating the sacrifices she made for him, he repaid her with cruelty, infidelity, and emotional torture.
“He started sleeping with other women. I wanted him to be my husband in every aspect, but he would not even let me touch him. Each time he has a new girlfriend, he stops sleeping with me. I suffered three miscarriages in this marriage, and still he would not change,” she told the court.
According to her testimony, one day she returned home from work only to find that her husband and his children had packed their belongings and left without warning.
“When I came back home from work, the house was empty. He had blocked my phone number and disappeared. I later heard that he had gone to the rural home. I followed him there, and I was shocked to find him living comfortably in the house that I had helped build,” she said.
Mugejo accused Sagunda of being chronically promiscuous, saying his affairs are an open secret in the community.
“He has girlfriends everywhere. I have confronted one of them several times.
It is strange, he claims he cannot perform with me in bed because of an illness, but people say that with his girlfriends he is very active. It seems his erectile dysfunction only happens when he is with me,” she claimed.
She added that despite enduring humiliation and emotional pain, she was not seeking revenge, but wanted to be compensated for the money she had invested in him and his family.
“All I want is my money back. I used my savings to pay his lawyer, feed his children, and ensure that they went to school. I worked myself to exhaustion for this man. I deserve to be refunded what I spent on him,” she said.
Chief Mutasa, after listening to both parties, questioned the legality of Sagunda’s divorce process and criticised him for mishandling traditional procedures.
“You cannot give a divorce token to your wife when you never paid any bride price.
“A divorce token must be given to the rightful person, her family, not to her directly. What you did is improper,” ruled the chief.
The traditional leader also advised Mugejo to approach the civil courts if she wanted to claim the money she said she spent supporting her husband.
“If you want your money back, you must take the matter to the civil courts.
This traditional court does not handle financial claims of that nature,” said Chief Mutasa.
He also urged both parties to separate peacefully and avoid further hostility, reminding them that their disputes had become a public spectacle that embarrassed their families.
“Divorce is never pleasant, but both of you must conduct yourselves with dignity. You once shared a home and life together. There is no need for insults or revenge,” said Chief Mutasa.
