Moffat Mungazi
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A MUTARE man’s life was turned upside down after discovering that his young wife was lured into an affair by his best friend, who had promised to send her to college and rent her a flat.
Kudzai Mutimbanyoka recounted how, despite confiding in Life Chidakwa about his marital issues, the latter took advantage of the trust and began to lure his wife, Beverley Chiwanga into an affair with him with empty promises.
The once-unshakeable friendship between the two men began to fracture as Chidakwa offered Chiwanga free joyrides and made empty promises to fund her college education, a prospect Mutimbanyoka had previously opposed.
The matter ultimately escalated to Chief Mutasa’s community court, where Chidakwa was ordered to pay Mutimbanyoka damages consisting of four head of cattle, one goat, and one cockerel for his betrayal.
During the court hearing, Mutimbanyoka recounted how Chidakwa had exploited his trust by enticing his wife, Chiwanga, with promises of a better life.
“He was aware that I opposed sending my wife to college, but he made promises to her nonetheless, even offering to rent her accommodation,” said Mutimbanyoka, his voice laced with bitterness.
He revealed how his best friend had secretly taken his wife on joyrides around Mutare, spending time with her at secluded places.
“He would give her lifts in his car and stop at isolated spots, such as Dangamvura Link Road and an area in the Uptown part of the Central Business District, to engage in illicit activities with my wife,” he said.
What cut deepest, according to Mutimbanyoka, was Chidakwa’s brazen flaunting of the affair in front of him.
Adding to his pain was the humiliation Chidakwa inflicted on him by gifting his wife a cap, which Mutimbanyoka unknowingly wore in public.
“Each time I wore that cap, he would mock me in front of others, calling me a useless man who wears his wife’s clothes. He would laugh at me, and I always wondered how he knew it belonged to my wife. When I discovered that he had bought her the cap and some shoes, I was furious. Why would my wife let me wear that cap, knowing it was a gift from her lover? It is heart-breaking,” explained Mutimbanyoka.
The betrayal began to unravel when Mutimbanyoka intercepted love messages between the two.
He also noticed that Chiwanga had become overly secretive, changing her phone passwords daily and refusing to let him check her phone.
Despite receiving numerous tip-offs from neighbours and friends about the affair, Mutimbanyoka initially dismissed them.
“People informed me that she was often in his car when I was at work, but I did not believe them,” he said.
“However, I eventually realised that something was amiss due to her behaviour. The tipping point came when I instructed her to call him, pretending that I had thrown her out due to their affair. Chidakwa responded by offering to rent her a flat in town. When I threatened to retrieve her call logs and chats from Econet, she broke down and confessed,” said Mutimbanyoka.
He also alleged that Chidakwa would video call him while he was at work, with Chiwanga present in his car, solely to prove a point.
“To demonstrate to my wife that he was man enough, and that I would never suspect their affair, he would call me while he was with her in his car. Although she was not visible on camera, she later confessed that she was present in the background throughout,” he said.
In court, Chiwanga admitted to the affair, but maintained that it remained nonsexual.
“Yes, we were in love, but our relationship never became physical. He would take me to secluded areas and discuss our future plans. His promise to fund my education was particularly enticing, as my husband opposes the idea of educating a wife. I was drawn to the prospect of gaining an education, becoming self-sufficient, and supporting my family,” she said.
In a dramatic courtroom scene, Chiwanga’s response to whether Chidakwa had sent his own wife to college sparked laughter when she simply said: “He has not.”
Pressed further, Chiwanga revealed that Chidakwa had kissed and touched her, but they did not sleep together. She claimed she told him she could not betray her husband, and her true motivation was to attend college.
“He kissed me and touched me, but we did not sleep together. I went along with him because I wanted to tell him I could not betray my husband. I did not want the relationship to bloom, but honestly, I wanted to go to college.”
Chidakwa initially denied the allegations, calling them a conspiracy against him.
However, when pressed, he admitted to the affair, stating they were in a relationship, but had not slept together. He also denied kissing or touching Chiwanga as she alleged.
“I am sorry. We were in a relationship, but it was still fresh, and we had not slept together. I never kissed or touched her as she alleges, but the relationship was still in its infancy,” said Chidakwa, his voice subdued. Chief Mutasa strongly condemned Chidakwa for betraying his friend and Chiwanga for engaging in the affair.
He ordered Chidakwa to compensate Mutimbanyoka with four cattle, a goat, and a cock by the end of February.
“A true friend does not act in such a manner,” said Chief Mutasa.
