Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A YOUNG couple’s marriage has been plunged into crisis after a woman confessed having a six-month affair with her husband’s uncle and family patriarch.
The matter came before Chief Mutasa’s community court last Saturday after Provide Chikomba accused his uncle, Sydney Chagwedera, of engaging in a clandestine relationship with his wife, Ruth Chapinduka.
Chikomba said Chagwedera occupied a respected position within the family and was regarded as a father figure. He said he only became aware of the alleged affair after Chagwedera’s wife reportedly caught the pair and confronted Chapinduka.
“I discovered that my wife was involved with my uncle after his wife caught them together and assaulted her. When I questioned my wife about the allegations, she eventually admitted that she had been having an affair with Chagwedera,” said Chikomba.
In her testimony, Chapinduka openly admitted to the relationship, and revealed that it had lasted for approximately six months.
She said the affair began after she made what she described as a promise to Chagwedera.
“I told him that I would give him a son because he only had daughters. That is how the relationship started. At first, we communicated secretly, and I knew what we were doing was wrong,” she said.
Chapinduka said the relationship intensified while Chagwedera’s wife was away in Mutare, where she had travelled to give birth. She said their communication initially started through WhatsApp messages.
“When his wife went to Mutare, I sent him a message on WhatsApp, and that is how our conversations began,” she said.
As the relationship developed, she said they became increasingly careful to conceal their interactions.
“I memorised his number so that there would be no obvious records. Whenever my husband was around, I would uninstall WhatsApp from my phone and reinstall it when he was away,” she told the court.
Chapinduka alleged that Chagwedera eventually expressed romantic feelings towards her and would arrange meetings whenever Chikomba was absent from home.
“We would meet near the toilet and banana plantation at my homestead. That became our secret love nest,” she said.
She further claimed that on some occasions she would leave her husband inside the house and lock the door before sneaking out to meet Chagwedera.
“I did it more than once because by then I was deeply involved in the relationship,” she admitted.
Chapinduka also made further allegations against Chagwedera, claiming that he once suggested she administer sleeping tablets to her husband, a proposal she said she rejected.
She alleged that Chagwedera also encouraged her to secretly take money from her husband’s business.
“He told me to take at least US$1 500 from my husband’s shop and give it to him for safe-keeping so that I could have something to rely on if my husband eventually chased me away,” she said.
Chapinduka said she later handed over approximately US$1 500 to Chagwedera in smaller instalments over an extended period.
The affair eventually unravelled after a series of messages allegedly exchanged between the two were discovered by Chagwedera’s wife.
Chapinduka said she had travelled to Zindi to visit her mother and intended to meet Chagwedera, who was travelling to Mutare.
“He paid for my bus fare and told me he would buy me a cake to collect later. After receiving it, I sent him a message thanking him. I also told him that he deserved a son from me,” she said.
She alleged that Chagwedera replied by complimenting her appearance, messages that were later seen by his wife.
“His wife saw the messages and called me. She confronted and assaulted me. After that, I tried to speak to Chagwedera, but he continued contacting me. I eventually confessed everything to my husband,” she said.
The court heard that Chikomba later confronted his uncle, resulting in a physical altercation between the two men. However, Chagwedera strongly denied the allegations, insisting that the claims were fabricated as part of an attempt by the couple to extort money from him.
Seeking to establish the facts, Chief Mutasa called the village head who had initially handled the dispute before it reached the traditional court.
The village head confirmed that the matter had been brought before him and testified that Chagwedera had admitted to the affair during the earlier proceedings.
With the allegations, financial claims and conflicting testimonies still requiring further examination, Chief Mutasa postponed the matter to September 12, when additional evidence is expected to be presented before a final ruling is made.
