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Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
Sins of the fathers will be laid upon their children.
This has been brought to life in Mutasa where a man is suing his step grandson for his late father’s sins.
Amon Nyamaropa claims that his late son-in-law did not pay his daughter’s lobola, and therefore his step-grandson, James Kanjanda, should pay for it.
The parties recently appeared before Chief Mutasa’s court.
“This man’s father stayed with my daughter for years without paying any lobola before his death in 2021.
“My daughter was his sixth wife, and now James is evicting her from the homestead, yet his father did not pay even a single cent as bride price for her.
“That is not fair. I want my daughter’s worth because she has been in that family for long and I have not benefited anything from it.
“At one time, they forced her to elope to another man without my knowledge. It does not make sense because when Kanjanda died, he left my daughter at his homestead with three children,” said Nyamaropa.
However, James said his step mother has since been impregnated by another man, adding that she should leave his father’s homestead.
He also told the court that he would never pay his step mother’s lobola on behalf of his late father.
“What I know is that my father paid lobola for all his six wives. He was a responsible polygamous man, and he always advised us to follow his footsteps. I believe it is a lie that her lobola was never paid.
“She was my father’s youngest wife and when he died, we asked if she wanted to go back to her parents’ home or stay with us since she was still young. They had three children with my late father. She chose to stay. However, earlier this year, we realised that she was pregnant.
“When we asked her about it, she threatened to commit suicide. Later on, she told us that a neighbour had impregnated her and we diligently took her to her lover’s place,” he said.
In his ruling, Chief Mutasa advised the Kanjandas to raise money and pay lobola for their late father’s sixth wife.
“You are the eldest son in the family. As the family head, liaise with your siblings and ensure that everyone contributes so that this woman’s bride price is settled.
“You can then inform Nyamaropa that you no longer want his daughter at your homestead since she is now seeing other men. He will not refuse to take her back.
“As it is, you have no right to send her packing. She is just like your mother, and you cannot kick your mother out,” ruled Chief Mutasa.
Turning to Nyamaropa, Chief Mutasa said: “The man who married your daughter is now late. You should take your daughter to her new lover. She transgressed and brought shame to the Kanjanda family.
“Your daughter should also be humble and know that she is no longer worthy to be part of the Kanjanda family. Let us not complicate things, we are not supporting her for being promiscuous.”
Online Reporter