Man dumps wife at parents' home at midnight

by Staff reporter
A Mutare man allegedly ended his marriage in dramatic fashion by driving his wife to her parents' home in Makoni in the dead of night, unloading her belongings and speeding away before her relatives could come outside.

The incident came to light at Chief Makoni's community court, where Antony Bvunzawabaya sought an order compelling his brother-in-law, Andrew Mabwearongwa, to settle outstanding bride price obligations owed to the family.

Mabwearongwa failed to appear in court despite having been formally summoned.

Bvunzawabaya told the court that his sister, Siphelile Mabwearongwa, had been abruptly returned to her family after years of marriage, with a substantial portion of the agreed bride price still outstanding.

"I am claiming bride price arrears from Mabwearongwa. He has not fulfilled what was agreed when he married my sister. He still owes five head of cattle, US$1 500 for rusambo and clothes for his in-laws," he said.

Bvunzawabaya said Mabwearongwa had previously been summoned and requested a postponement but failed to attend the subsequent hearing.

He alleged that Mabwearongwa arrived at the family home during the night accompanied by his father, the go-between and other relatives before leaving Siphelile and her belongings behind.

"He brought my sister to my homestead during the night accompanied by his father, the go-between and other relatives. They dumped her and sped off without speaking to us. My sister has a child and I do not know what to do next," Bvunzawabaya said.

Siphelile told the court that her marriage had been troubled, alleging that her husband neglected her and was openly involved with another woman.

She said Mabwearongwa rarely spent time at their matrimonial home and, when he did return, allegedly slept in the kitchen instead of their bedroom.

"Our marriage had serious problems. Mabwearongwa had a girlfriend where he was staying. He no longer slept in our bedroom, and would spend the few nights he came home sleeping in the kitchen," she said.


Siphelile said she sought intervention from her husband's relatives but claimed they did not help resolve the dispute.

"I approached his aunts hoping they would intervene, but instead they told me not to worry about the affair. They advised me to pack my belongings and leave the marriage," she said.

She said the situation culminated when a delegation of nine relatives arrived and instructed her to pack her belongings.

"A group of nine people, including his father, aunts and nephews, came and instructed me to pack my belongings. They drove me to Rusape during the night, and we arrived at my parents' home around midnight," she said.

According to Siphelile, the relatives quietly unloaded her belongings while she attempted to wake her family.

"As I was knocking on doors to wake up my relatives, they were offloading my belongings from the vehicle. Before my family could come out and speak to them, they had already driven away," she said.

The mother of one also raised concerns over property acquired during the marriage, including a residential stand in Tsanzaguru that the couple developed with a three-roomed cottage.

"We acquired a residential stand in Tsanzaguru and developed it with a three-roomed cottage. I want that property because we have a son together. I also left some of my belongings in Mutare, and do not know what to do next," she said.

After hearing the submissions, Chief Makoni ruled in favour of the complainants and ordered Mabwearongwa to pay US$1,000, five head of cattle and clothes for his in-laws towards the outstanding bride price obligations.

The traditional leader advised Siphelile to file a separate application concerning the division of matrimonial property, while the issue of child maintenance was referred to the magistrates' court.

Mabwearongwa was also ordered to pay US$260 in court costs and was fined three goats by the traditional court