Love: what a sugared pill

The young girl’s distinctive and adorable virtues were complemented by her thigh-revealing dress and high-heeled shoes.

She had everything men admire in a woman and perhaps extras.

People whistled and clapped as the lovebirds seemed to disappear with distance into a nearby park.
“Ndiwo anonzi mabhebhi aya, kalapsvusvu,” an elderly man could be heard saying as he downed his opaque beer.

“Anenge anotogeza nemukaka. She is the real deal,” the old man continued much to the amusement of other guzzlers.
“Bango ramudhara. Mwana akazvinakira hake uyu. Ndidzo tsvarakadenga idzi, svsvura ndadya mhodzi yechingwa,” a young chap who was nearby quipped.

However, before the lovebirds could complete their public display of affection, four youths emerged from nowhere and tripped the young man to the ground.
They pumped fists into his tummy and slammed his head on the tarmac, leaving him sprawling on the ground like a stray dog hit by a haulage truck.

People rushed to the scene, but the gang made good its escape before the rescuers arrived.
All this while, the defenceless girl was crying.

His crime, we were told, he had snatched the beauty from one of the assailants.
My foot! In this day and age people are still fighting for love?
Kana chirichibvumirano varume tigotenderana,
Kana tatadza kuwirirana varume tocheka ukama,
Vakomana musanditorera, mwana uyu ndinomuda,
Maivepiko machinda? Pandaimusarudza kumuzinda, sang rising artiste Jah Prayzah in his hit song called Chibvumirano.

And true to the youthful musician’s song, love is not an easy game.
It is full of trials and tribulations which if not handled wisely can lead to blood letting.

It’s not unusual in the communities in which we live to find people who grew up together not on talking terms because of love.
“I do not want to talk to Jeremiah. He is an idiot. He impregnated my sister and denied paternity and now he has snatched my girlfriend. I just do not understand what he wants from me,” you hear people saying in bars and even at church.

Neighbours and church mates are always on each other’s throats because of love.
Workmates too are sadly in similar circumstances.

In-laws too are doing the same. A father-in-law and son-in-law clashing over a woman at the bar or at the soccer stadium.
Even some brothers are now sworn enemies because of love.

There are countless instances where brothers snatch lovers from each other and the result is enemity.
Gentle reader, the case of people trading blows with love rivals is not confined to men.
Women too do the same.

These women go to the extent of harassing their love rivals in kombis, at church and even at their workplaces.
Some women funnel wrong information about another woman in the ears of their lover just to set the two apart to earn themselves are chance to take over.
“I can see you are madly in love with Lorraine.

“Do you know she once eloped to three guys before the courts authorised an abortion to end the impasse. She is also possessed by the spirit of her late aunt which does not like men.

“Kungokuyambirawo zvangu usati wanyura,” the women will say.
Men too sometimes make unsound claims over a certain woman just to spite the boyfriend.

A mere visit to the outskirts of most ghettos will show that women form the bulk of people who consult self-styled prophets that operate in these areas.
There they are given all sorts of concoctions and miteuro so that their love rivals back off.

One of the prophets who specialises in love matters confided in this writer that love is at the core of women’s desires.
“Most of my clients are women. They come for my services throughout the day. Those who go to work usually come for consultations in groups during lunch breaks.

“As I speak, I have so many photographs of men at my shrine.
“I ask them to bring the photos so that I can see the kind of person we will be dealing with,” said a prophet who spoke on condition of anonymity.
He said the women sometimes bring pictures of their rivals.

“Madzimai akaoma panyaya dzerudo. They are even prepared to kill for love.”
The prophet said some women approach him seeking concoctions to make a man they no longer want in their lives to back off.
Love means a lot to most people, hence the emergence of so many healers claiming to have powers to lure back lost lovers.

“From the mountains with all medicine for financial problems, pregnancy, boost business, removes bad luck, sandawana, oil, regaining lost lover, getting a job, relationships. No side effects. Call Doctor Musika 0776 867 474,” read an advert placed in a local daily by a traditional healer selling his services.
So much is happening in the world of love.

Instead of the game being reciprocal, it seems some people are now consulting prophets and those with spirits of divination to impose themselves on partners that have no need for them. Kuita kuzvikanda pamurume asisakude.

Workplaces and public places have been turned into boxing rings by people fighting for love spelling the need for people to learn to accept no for an answer and to handle love relationships with care.

Inotambika mughetto.