adminWalter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
A “greedy” man from Zaka in Masvingo was hauled before a traditional court for allegedly accepting lobola for his daughter from two men.
Timothy Mhlauri from Gokwe dragged Tedious Jongwe, 56, of Taruvinga Village before Chief Bota demanding a lobola refund after Jongwe who is his father in-law accepted bride price from another man for the same woman he intended to be his wife.
Strangely, the man who snatched Mhlauri’s intended wife is his mediator (idombo/ munyayi), Albert Maredza who had facilitated his marriage to Jongwe’s daughter Pelagia, 29, of the same village.
Appearing before Chief Bota’s court on Wednesday, Jongwe pleaded not guilty to accepting bride price for his daughter from both Mhlauri and Maredza.
The court heard that all marriage proceedings had been completed and Mhlauri paid two cows in addition to some money.
However, Pelagia was asked to briefly stay at Maredza’s homestead waiting for her aunt to take her to the husband, Mhlauri in line with their tradition.
Mhlauri had lived with Pelagia for six months before she was taken to Maredza.
The court heard that during her stay at Maredza homestead, Maredza secretly went to Jongwe and tricked him into accepting his bride price.
He offered to pay more than what had been paid by Mhlauri.
The court heard that the “greedy” father in-law gave in to the idea and accepted the bride price from Maredza and the two started to live as husband and wife.
However, all hell broke loose when word did the rounds that Maredza, the mediator, had now taken Pelagia for a wife.
Mhlauri approached the traditional court, which ruled in his favour and ordered Jongwe to compensate him with five cattle.
Jongwe contested the ruling at the magistrates court where Zaka resident magistrate again ruled in Mhalauri’s favour.
Online Reporter