Marriage nullified over dad’s exclusion

Lovemore Kadzura
Weekender Reporter
A CHIMANIMANI woman has been ordered by Chief Saurombe’s community court to reimburse her son-in-law the bride price he paid, after it emerged that her daughter was married off without the involvement of her biological father.
The ruling underscores the importance of adhering to traditional customs and the consequences of bypassing established practices.
Phyllis Makamanzi had dragged her maternal uncles to court, seeking answers to the mysterious deaths of her children.
She told the court that she had consulted prophets who attributed her misfortunes to the actions of her uncles.
The court found that the uncles had erred in facilitating her marriage without her father’s consent, and directed the family to repay the bride price and restart the marriage process with the father’s full blessing and presence.
“I am experiencing pregnancy complications. So far, I have had a stillbirth, and another baby died after six months with a deformed head. This is why I called my uncles so that we could consult traditional healers for a solution to my marital problems.
“After my second child died, my husband and I approached several prophets who told us that the problems were emanating from my mother’s side, where I was raised,” Makamanzi told the court.
Chief Saurombe questioned why Phyllis was leading the process instead of her husband.
Gift Tinoonda, her husband, who was seated in the gallery, was called to testify.
It emerged that he had paid US$340 in bride price to Phyllis’ maternal relatives without the knowledge of her father.
“When our second child died, my wife’s uncles took her, saying they wanted to console her. I paid US$340 bride price to the Makamanzis. I later heard that Phyllis is from the Chitsa Clan,” explained Tinoonda.
Phyllis’ mother, Wisper Makamanzi, revealed that Christopher Chitsa is her daughter’s father.
However, she said Phyllis had blocked her from inviting him to the marriage ceremony because she was bitter that he had not raised her.
Wisper narrated how she separated from Chitsa while pregnant, after he rejected responsibility for the child.
“I separated from Phyllis’ father, Christopher Chitsa, when I was pregnant. He rejected the pregnancy. We met in Mutare, where he was working, but I never went to his rural home. I just heard that he is still alive.
“When Tinoonda wanted to pay the bride price, I tried to get hold of him so that he could be present. However, Phyllis stopped me, saying he had not raised her. I dated Chitsa for about six months and she fell pregnant. When I approached his relatives in Dangamvura, his sister chased me away,” Wisper told the court.
Chief Saurombe flagged the marriage process, suggesting that it could be the source of Phyllis’ challenges, as she had not received blessings from her paternal side.
He advised the Makamanzis to reimburse Tinoonda the bride price, so that they could restart the payment process in the presence of Chitsa or his relatives.
“As it stands, Tinoonda did not marry Phyllis. Phyllis is not from the Makamanzi Clan, despite being raised there. Wisper was very wrong to be overruled by Phyllis. Wisper should have gone ahead and informed Chitsa of the intended bride price payment ceremony.
“Raising a niece does not give uncles the right to demand and accept bride price without the father’s blessings. Even if the father is late, his relatives should be informed and invited to the ceremony. Tinoonda should have been firm and demanded that his wife’s paternal relatives be present at the roora ceremony.
“Phyllis should know that blessings come from the father’s side — she cannot disown her father despite the circumstances that led to him separating from her mother. Phyllis’ clan and ancestors are not aware that she is married, and anything can happen, including such problems. This could be the source of her problems. The Makamanzis were greedy in not informing Chitsa that her daughter was being married.
“The Makamanzis are advised to return the bride price to Tinoonda, and invite Chitsa to be part of the process. Maternal relatives are entitled to charge and receive compensation for raising Phyllis (maredzwa), but bride price remains a preserve for the child’s father.
“Since Chitsa did not play any role in the upbringing of his child, he will just receive a few dollars from the bride price as a symbolic gesture, indicating that he has blessed his child’s marriage. The reversal process should be expedited, and Tinoonda and Phyllis should proceed to have another pregnancy, and see if they encounter the same challenges. If she encounters the same predicament, then the court will further assist her,” ruled Chief Saurombe. Marriage nullified over dad’s exclusion
Lovemore Kadzura
Weekender Reporter
A CHIMANIMANI woman has been ordered by Chief Saurombe’s community court to reimburse her son-in-law the bride price he paid, after it emerged that her daughter was married off without the involvement of her biological father.
The ruling underscores the importance of adhering to traditional customs and the consequences of bypassing established practices.
Phyllis Makamanzi had dragged her maternal uncles to court, seeking answers to the mysterious deaths of her children.
She told the court that she had consulted prophets who attributed her misfortunes to the actions of her uncles.
The court found that the uncles had erred in facilitating her marriage without her father’s consent, and directed the family to repay the bride price and restart the marriage process with the father’s full blessing and presence.
“I am experiencing pregnancy complications. So far, I have had a stillbirth, and another baby died after six months with a deformed head. This is why I called my uncles so that we could consult traditional healers for a solution to my marital problems.
“After my second child died, my husband and I approached several prophets who told us that the problems were emanating from my mother’s side, where I was raised,” Makamanzi told the court.
Chief Saurombe questioned why Phyllis was leading the process instead of her husband.
Gift Tinoonda, her husband, who was seated in the gallery, was called to testify.
It emerged that he had paid US$340 in bride price to Phyllis’ maternal relatives without the knowledge of her father.
“When our second child died, my wife’s uncles took her, saying they wanted to console her. I paid US$340 bride price to the Makamanzis. I later heard that Phyllis is from the Chitsa Clan,” explained Tinoonda.
Phyllis’ mother, Wisper Makamanzi, revealed that Christopher Chitsa is her daughter’s father.
However, she said Phyllis had blocked her from inviting him to the marriage ceremony because she was bitter that he had not raised her.
Wisper narrated how she separated from Chitsa while pregnant, after he rejected responsibility for the child.
“I separated from Phyllis’ father, Christopher Chitsa, when I was pregnant. He rejected the pregnancy. We met in Mutare, where he was working, but I never went to his rural home. I just heard that he is still alive.
“When Tinoonda wanted to pay the bride price, I tried to get hold of him so that he could be present. However, Phyllis stopped me, saying he had not raised her. I dated Chitsa for about six months and she fell pregnant. When I approached his relatives in Dangamvura, his sister chased me away,” Wisper told the court.
Chief Saurombe flagged the marriage process, suggesting that it could be the source of Phyllis’ challenges, as she had not received blessings from her paternal side.
He advised the Makamanzis to reimburse Tinoonda the bride price, so that they could restart the payment process in the presence of Chitsa or his relatives.
“As it stands, Tinoonda did not marry Phyllis. Phyllis is not from the Makamanzi Clan, despite being raised there. Wisper was very wrong to be overruled by Phyllis. Wisper should have gone ahead and informed Chitsa of the intended bride price payment ceremony.
“Raising a niece does not give uncles the right to demand and accept bride price without the father’s blessings. Even if the father is late, his relatives should be informed and invited to the ceremony. Tinoonda should have been firm and demanded that his wife’s paternal relatives be present at the roora ceremony.
“Phyllis should know that blessings come from the father’s side — she cannot disown her father despite the circumstances that led to him separating from her mother. Phyllis’ clan and ancestors are not aware that she is married, and anything can happen, including such problems. This could be the source of her problems. The Makamanzis were greedy in not informing Chitsa that her daughter was being married.
“The Makamanzis are advised to return the bride price to Tinoonda, and invite Chitsa to be part of the process. Maternal relatives are entitled to charge and receive compensation for raising Phyllis (maredzwa), but bride price remains a preserve for the child’s father.
“Since Chitsa did not play any role in the upbringing of his child, he will just receive a few dollars from the bride price as a symbolic gesture, indicating that he has blessed his child’s marriage. The reversal process should be expedited, and Tinoonda and Phyllis should proceed to have another pregnancy, and see if they encounter the same challenges. If she encounters the same predicament, then the court will further assist her,” ruled Chief Saurombe.