Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Weekender Reporter
A CHURCH elder allegedly eloped with a married congregant after their secret affair was exposed, living with her for two months before the woman’s husband tracked them down and eventually won her back.
The dramatic case came before Chief Makoni’s community court last week, where Tarisai Ziki of Rugoyi Village, accused Josiah Musukutwa, a Zion Christian Church (ZCC) elder, of adultery and destroying his family through an illicit relationship with his wife, Rudo Nyahasha.
Ziki, who is employed at Rugoyi Rural Hospital, said Musukutwa fled with his wife to Chakuma Village in Nyazura, where the pair allegedly lived together as husband and wife.
Seeking justice, Ziki demanded five head of cattle as compensation, arguing that Musukutwa had wrecked his 23-year marriage.
He further alleged that the affair had been conducted at a sacred mountain traditionally regarded as a burial site for local leaders.
“On April 12, the affair between my wife and Musukutwa was exposed by Musukutwa’s wife. I confronted him and we agreed that the matter would be resolved. The following day, I travelled to Rusape to collect my salary. When I returned, I discovered that Musukutwa and my wife had disappeared from Rugoyi Village.
“I tried calling my wife, but Musukutwa’s wife had already taken her phone. Later, I learnt that the two were staying in Chakuma Village, although I did not know their exact location,” he said.
Ziki said Musukutwa was staying in Rugoyi because his wife worked in the area as an agricultural extension officer.
“Musukutwa is not employed. He is an elder in the ZCC church where my wife worships. We have three children together. He destroyed my family and turned my life upside down. I even have a son-in-law now. To make matters worse, they were meeting intimately at a sacred mountain where traditional leaders are buried. The court should punish him for that,” he said.
Nyahasha admitted having the affair, and expressed remorse, telling the court that events spiralled out of control after the relationship was exposed.
She said following the discovery of the affair, Musukutwa persuaded her to flee Rugoyi, and accompany him to Chakuma Village, where they occupied an abandoned homestead.
“We stayed at Musukutwa’s homestead in Chakuma Village. I honestly do not know what came over me. I never intended to elope with him, but after the affair was exposed, his wife was attacking me and had confiscated my phone,” she said.
“Musukutwa told me that ‘yatova mhosva iyi’ and that we needed to leave Rugoyi. We then moved into a deserted homestead.”
According to Nyahasha, reality soon set in and she began missing her children.
“After a month, I returned home with my sisters, and begged my husband for forgiveness, but he refused to take me back. He later informed my brothers that he had sent me away.”
Rejected by her husband, Nyahasha said she returned to Chakuma Village and stayed with Musukutwa for another month before deciding she wanted to reunite with her family.
“As time went on, I kept thinking about the children I had left behind. I sent my husband a message asking about them. He told me they were fine and asked why I was not coming to see them.”
She said Musukutwa later gave her transport money to return home. Upon learning of the conditions under which she was living, Ziki allegedly provided funds for her to collect her belongings from Chakuma Village.
“I gathered my things and took them to my parents’ home in Wedza. I am now back in Rugoyi and staying with my husband,” she said.
The revelation left many in the court stunned, particularly when Chief Makoni asked Nyahasha whether she still wished to remain married to Ziki.
“I would like us to reconcile if we can understand each other again. However, the final decision rests with my husband. I want to be with my children, but if he refuses to accept me, I will return to Wedza,” she said.
In a further surprise, Nyahasha revealed that she had travelled to the court from Ziki’s homestead.
“I came to this court from my husband’s home, and we are intimate again,” she said.
Ziki said two days after Nyahasha eloped with Musukutwa, their 23-year-old daughter was married in her absence, forcing him to find another woman to stand in as the mother.
He, however, said he was willing to take Nyahasha back for the sake of their three children.
“She is the one who texted me a happy Fathers’ Day message. She asked to come and see the children, and I told her that she should look for the bus fare. I refused to give her because it would appear as if I was taking someone’s wife. “Tikataurirana hazvina kushata, we can still stay together again. The time my wife eloped with Musukutwa is the time when daughter was being married. We had to look for another person to act as her mother,” said Ziki.
Chief Makoni found Musukutwa guilty of adultery, and ordered him to compensate Ziki with five beasts.
He was further fined an additional beast for the offence.
For absconding the hearing, he was fined three goats, and ordered to meet the cost of suit of US$260.
“Musukutwa was properly served to appear before this court, and he wilfully absconded. He is found guilty of adultery with aggravating circumstances. However, evidence presented in this court suggest that he has no means to pay the fine, it seems the only asset he had is his organ. Ziki and his wife are now back together, and they should live peacefully as a couple. There is still love between the two. Illicit affairs are sweet, but they have an expiry date. Rudo is now back to her senses and we hope she has learnt her lessons,” said Chief Makoni.
