…appeal over turned
Cephas Shava
MWENEZI – Lovemore Chuma, a village head who was early this year convicted by Chief Chitanga’s court for engaging in an adulterous affair with the wife of his younger cousin brother, had his sentence appeal rejected by Mwenezi magistrate Honest Musiiwa who ruled in the complaint’s favour.
Earlier this year, Chuma, who is Mushayavanhu village head, was ordered by the traditional court to pay four beasts as compensation for having an affair with the wife of his namesake cousin, Lovemore Chuma MB.
Through his defence lawyer Joseph Maweni, Chuma admitted the offence but argued that the chief’s judgement was too harsh.
On his part, Chuma confessed that they indeed engaged in an illicit affair with Chuma MB’s wife.
“We had sexual intercourse once and it is Chuma MB’s wife who approached me because she was the first to send provocative messages to my cell phone,” said Chuma.
Giving her side of the story in court, Chuma MB’s wife said the whole affair was exposed when the child who was born from the illicit affair had gone for several weeks with the umbilical cord still wet.
The court further heard that, after realising that the family was about to go on a witch-hunt to find out the cause of the child’s problem, Chuma MB’s wife spilt the beans and revealed that the child belonged to Chuma.
On his part, Chuma MB said despite the fact that his brother was guilty he did not show any remorse.
“Mukoma hunhu hwenyu hunonyadzisa munototaura kuti mukadzi wangu agara achizikanwa nenyaya yekuhura muraini. Makamitisa mukadzi wangu dzoke zve monditsvagira lawyer futi…kana ndatokunzwirai tsitsi ndingatoti mubhadhare mombe nhatu,” said Chuma MB.
Musiiwa sternly reprimanded Chuma and ordered him to pay the complainant three beasts as per his request.local
