‘Village head snatched my wife, evicted me’

Court Reporter
A Centenary man last week told the Harare Civil Court that his village head snatched his wife and went on to evict him from the village.
Ephraim Nyemba (65) claimed that Keston Manyika evicted him from his homestead before ordering his wife Faresi to remain at the house.
Faresi was claiming US$100 per month from Nyemba for her own upkeep in addition to what he is paying for their child.
“I want the respondent to maintain me with a sum of at least US$100 per month because he ran away from our matrimonial home leaving me alone with the child, knowing full well that I am not employed,” she said.

Faresi said Nyemba ran away from their matrimonial home to stay with his girlfriend. In response, Nyemba said there was no need for him to maintain Faresi since she was in a new relationship.

“She must leave me in peace because I don’t have anything to do with her since she is now in love with the village head,” he said. Nyemba told the magistrate Ms Babra Masinire that he was left a destitute after being chased away from his house and village by the village head.

“How on earth can I maintain another man’s wife?” asked Nyemba.
Nyemba added that he would continue to pay maintenance for the upkeep of their 14-year-old daughter. Ms Masinire dismissed Faresi’s application saying she was old enough to take care of herself.