The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa Weekender Correspondent
For the past 57 years, a Marange man has failed to accept his stepmother as he claims that she destroyed his parents’ marriage in 1963.
Dennis Chatambudza has been a thorn in his stepmother’s flesh since the death of his father in 1996.
He has been calling Mrs Loveness Chitambudza (80) all sorts of names, including labeling her a woman of loose morals and a witch.
Having had enough of Dennis’ insults, the octogenarian recently approached the courts seeking a protection order.
Recently testifying before Mutare Civil Court magistrate, Ms Nyasha Kuture, Mrs Chatambudza said for the past 57 years, Dennis has failed to accept her as his stepmother.
Mrs Chatambudza said she got married to Dennis’ father after he had already divorced his first wife.
The elderly woman said Dennis accuses her of causing his parents’ divorce.
She also said when her husband died in 1996, Dennis accused her of causing his death.
“He has been labelling me a witch since the death of my husband in 1996. The whole family is now up in arms with me. Dennis is influencing his siblings to give me a torrid time. He has convinced them that I contributed towards their mother’s divorce.
“But when I got married in 1963, my husband was already divorced. He had long parted ways with Dennis’ mother and she had remarried. My husband later died in 1996 and I have had no peace since then.
“Dennis and his siblings belittle my children and he has since repossessed all the land that I inherited from my late husband. He claims that the land belonged to his mother,” narrated Mrs Chatambudza.
Dennis insisted that the land in question belonged to his mother.
He accused Mrs Chatambudza of destroying his parents’ marriage.
“She was not my father’s wife. My father never paid any lobola to her family. She was just his concubine and they sired children together. There was no traditional ceremony done to welcome her into the family as the new bride according to our Shona culture.
“She is a woman of loose morals who wrecked my parents’ marriage. In fact, she stayed with our father in Bulawayo where he was working while we were suffering and staying with our mother in Marange.
“My father divorced my mother because of her and we suffered at the hands of this woman since 1957 when they relocated from Bulawayo to Marange,” Dennis fumed.
Ms Kuture advised Dennis to treat his stepmother with respect.
“Do not be too emotionally attached to your late parents’ matrimonial property and problems. Work and acquire your own property. You should not be greedy. You should also treat your stepmother with respect.
“As has been proved in this court, she has been part of your family for 57 years. For that whole period, she has been staying at the family rural home in Marange and you should respect that,” advised Ms Kuture. The duo was advised to take the land issue to the chief’s court.
