Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Weekender Reporter
A MAN from Masvosva Village in Makoni District has been penalised by Chief Makoni’s community court after being found guilty of engaging in an adulterous relationship with his uncle’s wife, a scandal that led to the collapse of the marriage.
Lycius Chitovhoro was convicted of adultery for his affair with Faina Mhlanga, the wife of Leonard Mhara, following a hearing before the traditional court.
Mhara, who works alongside Chitovhoro in Harare, told the court that he uncovered the affair after stumbling upon intimate messages on his wife’s phone. He confiscated the device and continued communicating with Chitovhoro, gathering further evidence of the relationship.
The matter was first reported to Headman Masvosva, where Chitovhoro denied the allegations.
However, he was later convicted and ordered to pay a fine of US$500 and three goats.
Despite the ruling, Chitovhoro refused to comply, prompting the case to be escalated to Chief Makoni’s court.
In his testimony, Mhara recounted the events that led to the breakdown of his marriage.
“I discovered love messages on my wife, Faina Mhlanga’s phone, where Chitovhoro was communicating with her. We have since separated, and I have returned her to her parents, who have accepted her. Even after our separation, Chitovhoro continued to communicate with her. I reported the matter to the village head, where Chitovhoro disputed the allegations. The matter was transferred to Headman Masvosva, where he again denied the allegations,” said Mhara.
He added that Chitovhoro eventually admitted to the affair during the transfer of the case.
“When the headman was in the process of transferring the case to this court, he changed his plea and admitted dating my wife. He offered me US$300. I declined the offer, as it was too little considering the expenses I had incurred transporting my wife and her belongings back to her family. I demanded US$900. The headman later charged US$500 and two goats, which were supposed to be delivered within two weeks. After two weeks, the goats were not delivered. The headman advised him to pay up through a letter, which Chitovhoro ignored. The headman referred the case to this court,” explained Mhara.
During the hearing, the court was presented with the steamy messages exchanged between Chitovhoro and Mhlanga, which revealed alleged intimate details of their relationship. The evidence reinforced Mhara’s claims and left little doubt about the affair.
Court proceedings revealed that Lycius Chitovhoro and Faina Mhlanga had even discussed possible venues for their meetings, with Chitovhoro suggesting a lodge as their “love nest,” while Mhlanga proposed her matrimonial home, noting that her husband, Leonard Mhara, was often away.
Although Chitovhoro denied admitting to the allegations of adultery. He, however, conceded that he was the one who had sent the incriminating text messages.
He attempted to defend himself by claiming he believed he was communicating with another woman named Shantie.
“I am disputing these allegations of adultery. Mhara used his wife’s phone to communicate with me, and I did not have her contact. He is the one who initiated the conversation, and I replied thinking I was speaking to someone else. I became suspicious because of the pressure this person was putting on me to meet at the lodge or her house.
“I decided to call the person, but the call was dropped. We work at the same place with Mhara, and he later informed me that he was trapping his wife and was in possession of her phone. I told him the person I was talking to was Shantie. Mhara then told my wife that I was dating his wife. Faina denied ever dating me and said it was her husband who used her phone to communicate with me,” Chitovhoro told the court.
Chitovhoro further claimed that Mhara had divorced his wife not because of him, but due to her alleged infidelity with another man—her sister’s husband.
“Mhara divorced his wife because of infidelity between her and her sister’s husband, not me. Both the village head and Headman Masvosva ruled that the case could not be heard due to Faina’s absence. Mhara said he could not call her back to appear before the court because they had already divorced,” he argued.
Despite his defence, Chief Makoni found Chitovhoro guilty of adultery and of wrecking his uncle’s marriage. The court ruled that his explanation was weak, particularly since he had admitted to communicating with Faina.
As punishment, Chitovhoro was fined three beasts and ordered to pay Mhara US$110 to cover the costs of the lawsuit. He was given three months to settle the fine.
In delivering judgment, Chief Makoni dismissed Chitovhoro’s defence as evasive.
“Chitovhoro is trying to be clever, but there is overwhelming evidence. He admitted that he was the one communicating with Faina. The messages are explicitly clear that there was a sexual relationship between Chitovhoro and Faina. He also admitted the allegations before the headman, but later reneged on payment.
“He was fully aware that Faina was his uncle’s wife, but proceeded to date her. The marriage between Mhara and Faina has since collapsed. Chitovhoro is not a good relative, as he was aware that Faina was cheating with another man – instead of alerting Mhara – he went on to date her. Chitovhoro is fined three beasts and has three months to pay. He is ordered to meet Mhara’s US$110 cost of the lawsuit,” ruled Chief Makoni.
