The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukuutikwa
Weekender Correspondent
LOVE knows no age and a Nyanga octogenarian (85) stands accused of snatching his 26-year-old neighbour’s young wife.
Lurid text messages exchanged between the “prince charming” Lameck Kuwenyi, and Cecilia (23), whose last name was not disclosed, were discovered by the latter’s husband Nartsen Mangenda.
Bemused by Kuwenyi’s dexterity, Mangenda now suspects that the octogenarian might have used juju to win Cecilia’s heart.
Mangenda has since approached Acting Chief Saunyama’s court seeking compensation for loss of affection from Cecilia after she deserted their matrimonial home following the discovery of the love messages she exchanged with Kuwenyi.
Cecilia left her two children behind.
Acting Chief Saunyama descended heavily on Kuwenyi and ordered him to compensate Mangenda with two beasts.
Narrating his story before Acting Chief Saunyama’s court last Friday, Mangenda said he suspected that Kuwenyi had cast a spell on his wife.
Chief Saunyama
“There is an age difference of about 60 years between my wife and Kuwenyi. It is impossible that she voluntarily accepted his love proposal. I strongly doubt it. I believe wizardry was at play because it is unbelievable that she would fall for someone as old and as poor as him. It is unbelievable. Had it not been for the love messages and calls, I would have dismissed the issue as the usual village gossip,” said Mangenda.
Mangenda, a manager at a gold mine in Shamva, said his wife lacked nothing financially and emotionally.
“I am a manager at a gold mine and I am on a strong financial footing. I sent her money weekly and the week that she disappeared I had come from work with the intention of buying some cattle. We love each other so much and I did not suspect that she was sharing my love with this grey-haired man,” he explained.
Mangenda said Kuwenyi was disrespectful as he would call Cecilia in his presence.
“He called my wife in my presence on many occasions, and I did not suspect anything. I only thought that since we are neighbours and I am rarely home, he was probably helping my family with labour in my absence. That is what he had told me,” he said.
After discovering the love messages in his wife’s phone, Mangenda then diverted her calls to his phone.
He said Kuwenyi would call and use a “sexy” voice not knowing that Mangenda was the one receiving the calls.
In response, Kuwenyi dismissed the allegations.
He told the court that he was always in contact with Cecilia since he helps her with labour-intensive tasks at her homestead in Mangenda’s absence.
Kuwenyi was fined two beasts and two goats.
In passing judgment, Acting Chief Saunyama stated that the beasts would be given to Mangenda for the loss of his wife’s affection, while the two goats were for the chief’s court.
“The two goats will serve as appeasement to the ancestors of the Saunyama clan. By cheating with your neighbour’s wife, Kuwenyi defiled the area, and therefore it needs cleansing.
“We cannot have elderly men destroying young families. This judgement will act as a deterrent to other sneaky old men who harbour thoughts of snatching other men’s wives,” he said.
