Rusape man, Beyond Magwena, was left humiliated after a group of alleged hired thugs confronted him and his wife at their homestead over claims that he had abandoned his “small house”.
The explosive dispute was later heard at Chief Makoni’s community court, where Phibion Mutombwa accused Magwena of living with his sister, Prisca, as husband and wife without the family’s approval.
Mutombwa demanded compensation of three cattle, three goats and US$1,000, alleging that Magwena had persuaded Prisca to quit her job after promising to maintain her, only to later neglect her.She shocked me when she came to my house with hired thugs, causing a scene,” he said. “I had to lock my wife inside the house to protect her.”
He added that although he had been married for 20 years, Prisca continued to visit his homestead and threaten his wife, claiming her behaviour discouraged him from formalising their relationship.
In her defence, Prisca denied repeatedly harassing Magwena and said she only went to his home after he abandoned her for five months.
“It has been five months since he last came to my house,” she said. “Since I changed lodgings, he has never visited or checked how I am surviving. I only went to his house once. I still love him.”
In his ruling, Chief Makoni ordered Magwena to pay three cattle and two goats as part of bride price should his intentions toward Prisca be genuine. He also warned Prisca against harassing Magwena’s wife, urging both parties to respect boundaries and avoid further conflict.He convinced her to leave work, saying he would support her,” Mutombwa told the court. “When he failed to do so, she could no longer help take care of their mother.”
Magwena denied the allegations, insisting Prisca was only his girlfriend and accusing her of hiring thugs to cause chaos at his home.
“I met Prisca while repairing Damburamuchato Bar, where she worked,” Magwena said. “I was honest with her that I had a wife, and she accepted it.”
He said Prisca later claimed she was pregnant and that he assisted her financially after she lost her job.
“She was fired after a US$70 shortfall, and I paid it for her,” he said. “She later moved to Mabvazuwa suburb, and I gave her US$30 for her child’s school fees.”
Magwena told the court that the situation spiralled out of control when Prisca allegedly arrived at his home with hired men, forcing him to protect his wife.
