Lovemore Kadzura
Rusape Correspondent
A MACHEKE man who stands accused of having an affair with a married woman blamed the woman for seducing him and misleading him into believing that she was single.
Philip Tandi (50) appeared before Chief Makoni’s court for dating Waison Dickson (72)’s wife.
The woman, who was not identified, is aged 60.
Tandi and Dickson’s wife are workmates at the same farm.
Chief Makoni’s court presided over the case on behalf of Chief Mangwende’s court.
A distraught Dickson told the court that Tandi would visit his wife at their matrimonial home, adding that is how he got to know of the two’s affair.
Dickson was accompanied by his three children at the court.
His wife defaulted.
“I was at my homestead relaxing outside while my wife was inside the house. Tandi arrived at my homestead, but did not greet me. He called my daughter-in-law and enquired about the whereabouts of my wife. My wife came out and they started chatting.
“I confronted him on why he was talking to my wife. He said they are workmates and that he had visited to inform my wife that he was quitting his job. I further probed him, but he could not give satisfactory answers. He then left,” said Dickson.
He said he later met Tandi at a bar and the latter apologised for dating his wife.
“Tandi approached me and apologised for dating my wife. She said she had lied to him about her marital status. To my surprise, he has threatened to get me arrested if I continue confronting him over the issue.
“We stay a kilometre apart and he knew very well that we are married. I want to be compensated with two cattle,” said Dickson.
Tandi admitted that he proposed love to Dickson’s wife, adding that she had told him that she was not married.
“I work with this woman and she told me that she is single and searching. Since I am not married, I proposed love to her. I went to her homestead to follow-up on my proposal and that is when I learnt that she is married to Dickson. Dickson is just making wild allegations against me,” he said.
The court, however, found him guilty of the offence and ordered him to compensate Dickson with one beast.
He was further fined four goats to be paid to Chief Mangwende’s court.