Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Weekender Reporter
A RUSAPE man’s attempt to claim seven beasts from an individual he alleged stole his wife was recently thwarted by a community court.
The court ruled that Tatenda George Madongorere cannot receive compensation for losing a wife he did not pay bride price for.
Madongorere had dragged Kumbirai Ngorima to Chief Makoni’s community court, demanding seven beasts for allegedly being in a relationship with Violet Chinamatira with whom he has a child.
Ngorima reportedly lured Violet away from Madongorere and she now resides in a rented property.
Madongorere recounted the events leading to the breakdown of his relationship.
“Initially, my wife and I coexisted harmoniously, but we began experiencing problems. From September 2024, Violet’s behaviour became suspicious. I attempted to address the situation, including informing our aunties about the challenges, but her aunt failed to resolve our issues.
“In November 2024, I relocated to Harare for work, returning home every weekend. Rumours began circulating about Violet and Kumbirai’s relationship, with witnesses claiming to have seen them together in Kumbirai’s car during my absence. Initially, I disregarded the rumours, but they persisted,” he recounted.
“In May 2025, Violet expressed her desire to leave me, taking all her belongings. She claimed she would be better off as a single woman. I underestimated the severity of our issues, assuming they would be resolved. However, in June 2025, she packed her belongings and left, refusing to disclose her whereabouts or those of our child.
“I later discovered where she was staying, and learnt that Kumbirai was paying her rentals. I confronted Kumbirai after seeing him picking up Violet up from her residence. He denied any romantic involvement with Violet. Violet subsequently instructed me to stop confronting Kumbirai.
“On July 9, Violet requested for school fees for our child. I visited her residence that night, where I found our child alone outside. My child informed me that Violet was inside with another man. I knocked on the door and Violet shouted at me, claiming we were divorced. I forced the door open and a scuffle ensued with Kumbirai. We reported the incident to the police, who advised us to seek resolution through this court,” said Madongorere.
Kumbirai vehemently denied any romantic involvement with Violet, arguing that she merely hired his vehicle to ferry her goods.
“I was collecting wheat as payment for transport services when Madongorere arrived. I am not in a relationship with his wife. Our interaction is strictly professional, as she regularly hires me to transport her goods from Mozambique,” explained Kumbirai.
Violet testified that Madongorere was not her husband, as he had not paid bride price to her parents during their cohabitation. She also alleged that Madongorere had suicidal tendencies, prompting her to leave him.
“Madongorere and I were merely cohabiting – he did not marry me. Taibika mapoto. He abandoned me for eight months while he was in Harare, without communication or financial support for our child.
“In May, I informed him of my decision to leave, and he witnessed me packing my belongings. He had a habit of threatening to attack me with a machete and threatened to commit suicide,” said Violet.
The court requested Madongorere to provide evidence of his marriage to Violet. He said he had sent a go-between to inform her parents that he was staying with her.
“I was introduced to Violet’s parents, and they accepted me as their son-in-law. I paid the initial bride price installment, tsvakirai kuno and intended to settle the full bride price later,” said Madongorere.
The court dismissed Madongorere’s application, citing lack of bride price payment as evidence that he and Violet were not married.
The court also noted the absence of a marriage certificate.
“Customarily, marriage is evidenced by the payment of rusambo, mombe dzedanga and masungiro.
In cases of cohabitation, a man cannot sue for adultery.
The parties can only share property acquired during cohabitation. As it stands, Madongorere and Violet were not married,” the court ruled.
The court further emphasised: “Madongorere is seeking seven beasts from Ngorima, despite not paying any bride price to Violet’s parents. If this court orders Ngorima to pay Madongorere seven beasts, this will imply that Madongorere has parental rights over Violet, which is not the case.”
The court advised Violet to pursue child maintenance through the magistrates’ court.
“This will prevent unnecessary interactions with Madongorere, minimising the risk of violent confrontations between the two.”
The court also reiterated the importance of formalising marriages.
“The only recognised way to secure a marriage is through the payment of bride a price or obtaining a marriage certificate.”
