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Lovemore Kadzura
Rusape Correspondent
A Makoni man’s bid to sue his ex lover’s husband flopped last week after it was discovered that he never married her.
Gorden Mukora of Village 4, Jechera in Nyamajura, parted ways with Ellen Mutukuti years back to start another family in Honde Valley.
Mukora and Mutukuti have six children together.
Mukora only pitched up this year after Mutukuti had taken in a neighbour, Tendai Njopera, as her new husband.
He went on to demand six cattle from Njopera, claiming that he was staying with his wife at his homestead.
“I married Mutukuti and our union was blessed with six children. Some years back, I went on to settle in Honde Valley where I am farming bananas. I heard through the grapevine that Mutukuti is cohabiting with Njopera at my homestead.
“I was accompanied by a church elder to my homestead and we found the two staying together. The church elder asked Mutukuti what Njopera was doing at my homestead and she said he was her new husband.
“We quietly left. Everyone in the village, including Njopera, know that Mutukuti is my wife,” said Mukora.
However, when asked by the court to present evidence that he is customarily married to Mutukuti, Mukora only stated that everyone in the village, including the village head, know that they are married.
Giving her side of the story, Mutukuti said despite having six children with Mukora, he never paid lobola for her.
She also said Mukora gave her a divorce token when they separated.
“Mukora never paid a single cent to my parents.
“When he left for Honde Valley to start another family, he gave me 50 cents as a divorce token and chased me from our homestead.
“I went to my parents’ home in Gutu and informed them about the new development. They refused to accept the divorce token because Mukora had not married me.
“They also said they could not take care of his six children, including one who is mentally challenged. I returned to Nyamajura and Mukora’s parents told me to continue staying at my homestead. I later moved on with Njopera. Mukora is not my husband because he divorced me,” explained Mutukuti.
The court did not give Njopera a chance to respond and ruled that he had no case to answer.
“Marriage is symbolised by the payment of a bride price. The union that was mentioned in this court is cohabitation. The number of kids do not escalate cohabitation into marriage.
“Mukora also gave Mutukuti a divorce token, so he cannot sue any man who takes her in. The case is dismissed,” ruled Chief Makoni.
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