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Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
FORMER Gender and Women’s Affairs deputy Minister Ms Evelyn Masaiti has been accused of wrecking a Gweru woman’s eight-year marriage after snatching the husband whom she allegedly lured with money and a car. Ms Tendai Mashoko (26) of Ascot told the civil court last week that her marriage was irretrievably broken down after Ms Masaiti (49) — who is the MDC-T National Assembly legislator for Dzivaresekwa in Harare — started dating her husband, Mr Euvenis Kaliphanos (31) of Hwange.
The couple is now on separation.
The matter came to light when Mr Kaliphanos took Ms Mashoko to court over custody of their eight-year-old daughter.
Ms Mashoko told The Herald on the sidelines of the court session that Mr Kaliphanos once introduced Ms Masaiti to their daughter as her biological mother.
“I separated with my husband in July last year after I stumbled upon Ms Masaiti’s picture in his phone.
“When I confronted him, he then gave me a 24-hour ultimatum to leave our matrimonial home in Hwange where he is employed by National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ). He told me that he wanted his new wife to move in.
“I respected his decision and moved out of the house together with our two children, an eight-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy. Ever since then the two have turned my life into a nightmare,” alleged Ms Mashoko.
She claimed Masaiti abused her when they met at a local supermarket.
“My husband also told me that my relatives support Zanu-PF therefore we were not supposed to be together. After we separated he started sending me pictures of him and Ms Masaiti and other women as well,” she said.
Mr Kaliphanos dismissed the allegations.
“I am not involved with Ms Masaiti. The picture of me and her (Ms Masaiti) was taken when I bumped into her at a certain function where I requested for a photo with her. We are not an item,” he said.
Ms Masaiti refused to speak to this reporter when contacted for a comment.
She gave the phone to her sister.
“Who are you? I am Ms Masaiti’s sister I will see if she knows you and if she wants to talk to you,” she said.
Gweru magistrate Ms Getrude Mayenyoso, who presided over the case, gave Mr Kaliphanos the right to visit his child at school and to have custody of the minor during school holidays.
Online Reporter