Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A BITTER family feud over alleged boyfriends, a roofless house and the welfare of children erupted at Chief Mutasa’s community court, where an estranged wife fought for the right to build a home at her former husband’s family homestead.
The dispute pitted Gilbert Muponda against his former wife, Ratidzai Zinyama, who continues to stay at the homestead with their children despite the collapse of their marriage.
At the centre of the dispute was Zinyama’s request to construct a house for her children, a move opposed by some members of the Muponda family.
Gilbert’s father, identified only as Sekuru Muponda, accused Zinyama of behaving inappropriately at the family homestead, and alleged that she entertained other men on the property after separating from his son.
“The problem is that she now does whatever she wants at my home. Just because her husband left her does not mean she can bring boyfriends to the homestead.
“She is staying there because she is raising the children, but that does not give her the freedom to bring other men into the family home,” he said.
Sekuru Muponda also complained that Zinyama frequently left the homestead without informing family members of her whereabouts.
“There is nothing wrong with telling people where you are going and when you expect to return. Sometimes she leaves without informing anyone and comes back very late at night. We do not know where she has been or whether she is safe,” he said.
He further alleged that some of Zinyama’s friends were encouraging her to be disrespectful towards family elders.
However, Zinyama focused her testimony on what she described as efforts by her estranged husband and his relatives to force her and her children off the property.
She said she had previously secured a ruling allowing her to remain at the homestead.
“My husband and his family wanted to evict me, but the court ruled that I should continue staying at the homestead with my children,” she said.
Zinyama said Gilbert later relocated to Watsomba, where he is allegedly staying with another woman, leaving her to shoulder the responsibility of caring for their children.
“He moved to Watsomba with another woman and took the children’s birth certificates. At the same time, he told me not to build another house at the homestead,” she said.
Zinyama claimed that when she suggested returning to her parents’ home, Gilbert refused to facilitate the process.
“When I asked him to pay my bride price obligations so that I could leave peacefully and return to my family, he told me he would only do that after our children turned 18, got married and he had received their bride price,” she said.
She further alleged that Gilbert had repeatedly stated that he no longer wanted the marriage and had insulted her by referring to her as a “goblin’s wife”.
Her brother, Nyasha Zinyama, backed her claims, telling the court that Gilbert had prevented his sister from building proper accommodation despite the family’s difficult living conditions.
He said the children were currently staying in a structure without a roof.
Gilbert denied ever stopping Zinyama from building a house.
“I was surprised to be summoned here because I have never refused her permission to build.
“In fact, she told me that she would not build because she is not a man. I continue to support her and the children even though we are no longer together. I pay maintenance for the children in accordance with a court order,” he said.
Gilbert blamed the collapse of the marriage on longstanding conflicts with Nyasha.
“I loved her, but our marriage eventually broke down because of problems involving her brother, who repeatedly assaulted me,” he claimed.
In his ruling, Chief Mutasa said the welfare of the children outweighed the disputes between the adults.
“Let her build a house for your children. The children cannot continue living without a roof over their heads while you are in Watsomba living comfortably.
“You cannot punish your children because of the problems between the two of you,” he ruled.
Addressing concerns raised by Sekuru Muponda, Chief Mutasa advised Zinyama to respect the family’s concerns while staying at the homestead.
“We understand that you are still young and may want to have a relationship in future. However, if that happens, do not conduct those relationships at the Muponda family homestead,” said the traditional leader.
The court ultimately granted Zinyama permission to proceed with building a house, saying the children’s need for decent shelter must come before the ongoing family wrangles.
