Mother locked out by own children

Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A HONDE Valley woman has accused her husband of turning their children against her, alleging that they locked her out of the family home, denied her food and treated her like an outcast during a long-running marital dispute.
The allegations were made by Tariro Kundishora against her husband, Zacharia Moyoweshumba, when the couple appeared before Chief Mutasa’s community court.
Kundishora said her husband repeatedly questioned the paternity of their two sons and influenced their children to reject her.
“I would come home and find that my children had cooked and eaten without leaving anything for me. They told me that their father had instructed them not to give me food because I was a witch and would kill them.
“Sometimes, when I arrived home late, they would lock me outside, and I had to look for alternative accommodation. It was painful because these were my own children, and I felt like I no longer belonged in my own home,” she said.
Kundishora said she married Moyoweshumba in 2007, and the couple had five children.
“We had two girls first and then a boy, but he denied being the father. We later had another girl whom he accepted, but when we had another boy, he again denied paternity. I could never understand why he accepted the girls, but rejected the boys. Despite the accusations, I remained in the marriage because I wanted our family to stay together,” she said.
She further alleged that her husband accused her of being involved in witchcraft and claimed her family carried an avenging spirit.
Kundishora said efforts by her relatives to resolve the dispute were unsuccessful, and matters worsened when Moyoweshumba allegedly deserted her.
She also said she lived in fear after receiving threatening messages from him.
“He would send me messages threatening to axe me to death. I feared for my life and reported the matter to the police,” she said.
Kundishora said Moyoweshumba later removed one of their daughters, who was preparing for her Form Four examinations, from the family home.
“He rented accommodation for her elsewhere, and told her that if she remained with me, I would bewitch her, and she would fail her examinations,” she said.
Kundishora said she was left with four children, but by then their relationship had already broken down.
“They had completely turned against me. They would cook and eat without giving me any food, insisting that their father had instructed them not to share meals with me,” she said.

The complainant also claimed that Moyoweshumba attempted to dissolve their marriage by taking a divorce token to her parents.
“He took a divorce token to my parents, but they refused to accept it because he had not paid bride price. They told him he could only bring a divorce token after fulfilling his obligations as a husband,” she said.
Kundishora said the threats continued even after they separated.
“Even now, he sends me messages saying he will deal with me. I am still afraid because the threats never seem to end,” she said.
In response, Moyoweshumba denied threatening to kill his wife, and insisted that he still loved her despite their differences.
“I still love my wife. My concern is that she is dishonest. At one point she allegedly stole a cellphone in Hauna, causing conflict and embarrassing me,” he said.
Moyoweshumba defended his doubts over the paternity of their sons, saying his suspicions stemmed from his wife’s reluctance to allow him access to her mobile phone.
“There were times when she refused to give me her phone and that made me suspicious. I eventually took the children for DNA tests, and the results showed that they were mine.
“However, I still had doubts because when we went to collect one of the results, it could not be located. That left me questioning the outcome, despite the other tests confirming that I was the father,” he said.
He maintained that he never wanted to destroy his family.
“I love my wife and I want peace in the family. Our disagreements have escalated, but I never wanted our marriage to collapse,” he said.
After hearing both sides, Chief Mutasa advised Moyoweshumba to repeat the DNA tests at another laboratory if he still harboured doubts about the children’s paternity.
The traditional leader urged the couple to forgive each other and focus on rebuilding peace within their family.
The matter ended on a conciliatory note, with the couple reconciling before the court and agreeing to return home and work towards restoring harmony in their marriage and family.