Lovemore Kadzura-Mutare Bureau
A FUNERAL assurance company employee lost his job following an alleged affair with a married woman, a dispute that ended up before Chief Makoni’s court.
Frank Tika dragged Takudzwa Masamba before the traditional court, accusing him of dating his wife, Patience, and contributing to the collapse of their 10-year marriage.
Tika, who was demanding three beasts from Masamba, told the court that the two met at Rusape General Hospital, where Patience was training as a mortician.
“I am in pain because of what Patience did to me. She is my wife of 10 years, and we have a child together. I paid a bride price of US$2 500. I secured her a place at the hospital to train as a mortician.
“This is where she met Masamba and started dating. I discovered the affair through Patience’s phone where they were sending pictures. Patience’s parents called me to their house and forced me to accept a divorce token. They said I was going to harm their daughter since I was raising adultery allegations.
Frank Tika
“When Masamba heard that I was now aware of their affair he called me and claimed that he was not aware the Patience was a married woman.
“I told him to stop dating my wife, and to my surprise he said there was nothing I can do to him. Masamba was fired from his work over this issue,” he said.
Masamba admitted dating Patience but said she had told him she was single. He also said the dispute cost him his job, and that Tika had threatened him.
“I did not date a married woman. I met Patience when we visited Rusape General Hospital to collect bodies of clients and she was a mortician student. I asked her about her status, and she said she was single.
“I told her that I was married but I loved her. Tika has no proof that I dated his wife. Patience told me that she gave Tika divorce token. Tika is making several threats against me, including that my organ will be eaten by termites.
“I have lost my job over this matter. I am now afraid that he will harm me,” he said.
Patience said she had divorced Tika twice, but he refused to accept their separation. She accused him of abuse, threats and taking her undergarments and bedroom towel to give to a traditional healer.
Patience
“Tika is lying that I am his wife. He was an abusive husband who used to beat me up.
‘This led me to hand him divorce token twice. He also insulted my parents. Frank would consult traditional healers and took my undergarments. He would bring his girlfriends at our house. He made death threats against me.
“When I divorced Tika, he said he was going to fix me so that I bled forever. He grabbed me while walking in town and confiscated my cellphone.
‘‘Police advised me to divorce Tika formally. I handed him the token in the presence of parents and his go-between,” she said.
After hearing the parties, Chief Makoni absolved Masamba of adultery, saying Patience had misled him about her marital status.
The traditional leader advised Tika to seek the return of part of his bride price from Patience’s father, saying her conduct was unacceptable.
