Peter Chawapiwa
13 March 2017, GUTU – Two men from Chikombiro village under Chief Munyaradzi are at the centre of controversy after they dragged each other to the courts over a woman, TellZim News can reveal.
Gibson Rusere dragged Pius Rugwaro to Chief Munyaradzi’s Court accusing him of snatching his wife, Margaret Mupereki, with whom he had lived for years and had sired many children.
Chief Munyaradzi ruled in favour of Rusere and ordered Rugwaro to pay the complainant four cattle for taking somebody else’s wife and the Messenger of Court duly collected the cattle on Rusere’s behalf.
Rugwaro had, however, denied any wrong doing, arguing that Rusere was not formally married to Mupereki and the two were merely cohabiting because Rusere did not pay any lobola for the woman.
This claim was corroborated by Mupereki’s father who said her daughter was not married to Rusere because no lobola was ever received from him.
Rugwaro then decided to appeal against Chief Munyaradzi’s judgement at the Gutu Magistrates Court and won the case.
Magistrate Edwin Marecha ruled that Chief Munyaradzi had erred in his findings and ordered that the cattle be returned to Rugwaro.
Rugwaro had stuck to his guns, arguing that Rusere was not even formally known to Mupereki’s parents as a son in-law.
He told the court that he had already paid part of the lobola for Mupereki, proof that the woman was not wife to anybody else.
“I am happy with the ruling and will seek the services of members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to serve Rusere with the judgement so that he can return my cattle,” Rugwaro said after his successful appeal.
A dejected Rusere said he would try and appeal against the ruling.local,topnews
