Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Weekender Reporter
A HEADLANDS man who allegedly tried to woo his neighbour’s wife while her husband was working in South Africa has found himself in trouble after the woman rejected his advances and reported him when her husband returned home.
The matter surfaced at Chief Makoni’s community court last week after Taurai Mukaratirwa took his neighbour, Farai Muchenje, to court for persistently proposing love to his wife, Edna Masango.
Mukaratirwa said he only learnt of the alleged advances after returning home from South Africa.
“A few months ago I was away from home. When I came back, my wife told me that Muchenje had been proposing love to her through WhatsApp. She said she rejected his advances, but he continued pursuing her,” said Mukaratirwa.
He said Muchenje initially asked Masango to delete the messages he had sent her, and she complied. However, he allegedly resumed his pursuit just days later, forcing her to block his WhatsApp number.
“After four days he started again, so my wife blocked him. Some time later, he began sending text messages and making phone calls, which she ignored. She also blocked that number.
“When she later unblocked the messages, they were immediately delivered, showing he had continued trying to contact her. In some of the messages, he was pleading to visit her while I was away,” said Mukaratirwa.
The dispute escalated when Mukaratirwa’s child allegedly came home from school in tears.
“Last Friday my child returned from school crying. She said Muchenje’s child was telling other learners that my family survived through Muchenje’s help while I was away. The child also claimed that my wife had proposed love to Muchenje,” he said.
Mukaratirwa said he confronted Muchenje over the allegations.
“While we were discussing the issue, Muchenje’s wife switched off the lights and started assaulting my wife. We then decided to bring the matter before the court,” he said.
In his defence, Muchenje admitted proposing love to Masango but argued that the matter had already been resolved by Village head Vheremu, who had fined him US$100.
“It is true that I proposed love to Mukaratirwa’s wife while he was in South Africa. The matter was heard by Village head Vheremu. Mukaratirwa was not present, but his parents said they were representing him. I was found guilty and ordered to pay US$100, which I handed over to his mother.
“Nine days later, I was surprised to receive another summons to appear before this court over the same matter. When I confronted Mukaratirwa’s parents, they told me the issue had already been concluded and that I should not attend this hearing,” he said.
Mukaratirwa, however, denied authorising his parents to represent him.
Village H\head Vheremu confirmed that Mukaratirwa’s parents had indeed appeared and represented him when the case was first heard.
In his ruling, Chief Makoni upheld the decision made by Village head Vheremu, noting that Mukaratirwa’s parents had voluntarily represented their son and that the US$100 fine imposed on Muchenje was appropriate under the circumstances.
The chief ordered Mukaratirwa’s parents to hand over the money they received to their son.
Muchenje was also directed to pay Mukaratirwa a goat as compensation for the costs incurred in pursuing the matter before the court.
