Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Weekender Reporter
A MAKONI man has been ordered to compensate his longtime friend after being found guilty of engaging in an illicit affair with the friend’s wife.
Gift Chiteto of Maparura Village in Makoni North was recently hauled before Chief Makoni’s community court over allegations that he was romantically involved with Lisa Munyanyi, the wife of his close friend Lawrence Nyamandi. The case shocked the community, as both men are known to be close companions, and their wives also share a strong friendship.
Nyamandi told the court that he uncovered incriminating text messages and recorded phone calls between his wife and Chiteto, which exposed the alleged affair. He demanded compensation of eight cattle.
“I saw messages where Chiteto was romantically communicating with my wife. When I confronted her, she dismissed it and we had a scuffle. She later left me and returned to her parents. To my surprise, I later learnt that it was Chiteto who advised her to go back so they could meet more easily. I have recordings of their calls,” Nyamandi testified.
Chiteto, however, denied the allegations, insisting that his communication with Lisa was purely platonic.
“I used to talk to Lisa, but we never exchanged love words. We only discussed general issues. Nyamandi is my best friend, and our wives are also friends. Lisa confided in me that Nyamandi was seeing another woman, which was affecting their marriage. She said she wanted to leave, but I advised her not to,” Chiteto told the court.
Lisa also claimed that she had only communicated with Chiteto when Nyamandi squandered money generated from their tobacco sales.
“I never dated Chiteto, and his wife is my friend. We share secrets. She used to counsel me after my husband squandered all the money from our tobacco sales. I sent Chiteto an audio seeking advice, asking him what to do about the issue. When my husband came across the audio, he dragged me to Chiteto’s home to have a dialogue about why we were communicating.
“He later ordered me to leave his homestead, which I did. I am currently staying with my parents, and I am surprised why he has summoned me. It is not Chiteto’s first time to accuse me of infidelity,” said Lisa.
Chiteto’s wife, Mavis Mutanho told the court she was not aware that her husband and Lisa were communicating over the phone.
“Indeed, Lisa came to my homestead seeking advice on her marital challenges. My husband was there and overheard our conversation. I am not aware that they were communicating over the phone,” she said.
The court was left in stitches when Nyamandi played a 30-minute-long phone call recording between Lisa and Chiteto.
Lisa was advising Chiteto not to call her, but only respond to her voice messages, as her husband had access to her phone.
“I am using Tatenda’s phone. Please do not call or text on my phone. He is planning to go to Econet to get my call and chat history. Do not call me, I will send you a voice message when I have my phone. He is refusing to release my phone, and has since changed the password. He wants to trace our conversation so hapana means here dzingaitika because akutaura zvekuenda kuEconet. Ahhh imiii ko akano tracer ma message imi…”
“The mesh wire and four bags (fertilisers) are missing at home. If he does not return them pamba hapagarike panenge pachitovava. I am just back at his homestead because my grandmother said I should not divorce him — he is the one who is supposed to do so. I didn’t want to return home. Ukatsvaga makudo mugomo unomawana. Aigaira achindipomera, ndazadzikisa zvaida. Haana kana basa uyo,” Lisa told Nyamandi during the conversation.
Chiteto told Lisa not to worry about their conversations leaking to Nyamandi. He also told her to be strong and not allow her husband to control her.
“Do not worry, he will not get that information without the police involvement. It will have to go through the police. Do not be so anxious. Do not be controlled like a remote control, where you are told to do something and you just do it. Do not be afraid of him,” said Chiteto.
The court found Chiteto guilty of having a relationship with a married woman.
He was ordered to compensate Nyamandi with a beast and bear his costs of the lawsuit, US$150.
He was further fined three goats and was given a month to pay.
