Moffat Mungazi
Lovemore Kadzura
Weekender Reporter
A COMMUTER omnibus driver recently took cattle reportedly bought by his estranged wife and registered them in his name, before delivering them to his father-in-law as payment for the outstanding bride price.
This was revealed at Chief Makoni’s community court last Friday where Tom Allan Matambanadzo had brought a claim against his son-in-law, Timothy Mukome, demanding payment of the outstanding bride price for his sister.
Timothy was representing his father, Sekuru Matambanadzo, who was unwell at the time.
“I want Mukome to settle the outstanding bride price. Mukome and his wife are no longer in good books. They are always fighting and squabbling. Mukome also said he no longer loves his wife, so it is high time he pays up his bride price arrears.
“My daughter also contributed in purchasing the cattle from the proceeds of her tobacco sales. She toiled alone when her husband was away, bought some cattle and registered them on Mukome’s veterinary stock card. They were married in 2008, and he owes me rusambo of $400 trillion, ndiro ZWL$500 000 and parents’ clothes.
“On January 5, 2025, he came to pay three goats for masungiro and three beasts. He then left a divorce token. The cattle belong to my daughter. I want to know if it is possible for my daughter to marry herself,” argued Matambanadzo.
Asked by the court to prove that indeed the beasts were hers, the woman said she grew tobacco alone and used the proceeds to buy the cattle.
“I sold my tobacco and used the proceeds to buy the cattle, which I registered in my husband’s name on his stock card. Mukome was working as a commuter omnibus driver in Harare that time. The cattle were registered in Mukome’s name since we were staying together as a family,” said the woman.
Timothy’s father, Sekuru John Mukome told the court that he assisted his son to pay the bride price to Sekuru Matambanadzo.
He also produced a bride price list that was signed by Sekuru Matambanadzo, which showed that he only owed his in-laws some clothes.
The court’s ruling was quite straightforward.
Chief Makoni dismissed the claim of ZWL$400 trillion, which is equivalent to US$400, due to lack of merit.
The court’s decision was based on the stock card, which is in Mukome’s name, serving as proof of ownership for the cattle in question.
The court also emphasised on the importance of women registering valuable posses
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sions in their own names.
In terms of the bride price, Mukome was found to have fulfilled his obligations, except for providing some clothes to his in-laws.
The court ordered Mukome and Matambanadzo to agree on a delivery date for the outstanding clothes.
“The stock card proves who owns the cattle in question. In this case, Mukome is the owner. When a woman acquires valuable possessions, she should register them in her name. This should be a lesson to all women.
“Mukome paid the bride price using his cattle. The claim of rusambo is also dismissed as it was paid, and ndiro (plate) cannot be claimed as bride price arrear. Mukome only owes your parents clothes, and the two of you must agree when they should be delivered,” ruled the court.
