Twins not his: Marriage ends in courtroom drama

Solomon Bhumu
Post Reporter
THE Mutare Civil Court has ordered a 28-year-old woman to pay compensation after admitting that her three-month-old twins were not fathered by her husband, abruptly ending their seven-month-old marriage.
The couple appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mrs Thandiwe Sibanda, who directed Adiona Mhembere of Dangamvura to pay US$400 to her husband, Tinashe Ngorima (35).
Ngorima had dragged her to court after conducting DNA tests to confirm her confession of infidelity.
Ngorima told the court that marital problems began in September last year when he discovered romantic text messages between his wife and another man on her phone.
“I confronted her about the messages and chased her away from the house. The following day she returned with family elders and apologised,” he said.
He added that matters escalated when he asked his wife if she was prepared to change her behaviour.
“She told me she would never change, and went on to say the twins she had recently given birth to were not mine, but belonged to her former boyfriend,” Ngorima testified.
Mhembere admitted her infidelity, telling the court that the twins were fathered by her former partner, who has since denied responsibility.
“I lied to my husband that the twins were his because I loved him and wanted to spend my life with him,” she said.
Ngorima asked the court to compel his wife to refund the money he had spent on the twins, whom he initially believed to be his children.
Mhembere argued that the amount demanded was excessive, claiming the babies were still breastfeeding and had not incurred significant expenses.
In her ruling, Mrs Sibanda said the marriage had irretrievably broken down and granted a decree of divorce. She ordered Mhembere to pay US$400 in compensation, in monthly instalments, noting that Ngorima had suffered both emotional and financial prejudice.
The magistrate further advised that if the parties wished to resolve the matter traditionally, they were free to engage elders from both families in line with customary practices.