Entertainment / Celebrity
Former Miss Zimbabwe vows to fight to save her marriage
25 Mar 2014 at 08:22hrs | Views
FORMER Miss Zimbabwe Lorraine Maphala says she is in "denial" after sensational revelations that her three-times-married husband, Sonny Phiri, is cheating on her with a younger woman.
The former beauty queen, who married the serial bed hopper last year, is determined to fight to save her marriage to the disgraced former preacher who has been enjoying sex trysts with their college student neighbour, Rumbidzai Sibanda, 18.
After shutting out the media, Maphala posted pictures of herself and Phiri - founder of micro-lender, Nissi Finance - on Facebook having dinner with his daughter, Prudence, from a previous relationship.
And in a bizarre WhatsApp status, she announced to friends: "Reading between the lines but in denial."
But friends say she is privately in turmoil at the betrayal - the latest in a string of sex scandals involving Phiri, who was once involved in an office romance with an employee, while at the same time dating Maphala.
"She has been to dark places, emotionally, in her relationship to Sonny. She will try and project a tough exterior, but all this is taking a toll on her and their marriage," said a pal last night.
And in another cryptic message on Facebook yesterday, which some read as a note to Phiri to be true to her marriage vows, she said: "Speech has no value unless it can be translated into action!"
Phiri, who calls himself reverend after leading the ill-fated Day of the Pentecostal Church, which collapsed after he fled the country over claims he had sex with an underage girl, has reached out to his teenage mistress' family after her father called him "disgraceful".
Rumbidzai's father, Headman Sibanda, lives a few streets away from Phiri.
A source said: "Phiri is quite keen to make peace with his teenage lover's family. You don't want to cross this girl's father, he's a professional hunter."
Talks are planned this week at which he is expected to apologise.
Yesterday, Phiri - who recently splashed on a BMW 3 Series for Maphala - was at his office in the city, but staff had been instructed to say he was away. His wife, who works for the company, was also not taking calls.
Rumbidzai told our sister paper, Sunday News, that she hooked up with Phiri on Facebook three years ago and they have been inseparable since. She would have been 15 at the time, raising the possibility of criminal charges.
Rumbidzai, according to Sunday News, was previously a congregant at Phiri's church, along with her family, and had recently discussed moving in with the married businessman.
"We have it all planned," she boasted.
She was not bothered that he is married to the Miss Zimbabwe 2005 winner, declaring: "I don't care about her as long as I'm rich."
Phiri and Maphala were customarily married in 2011 before tying the knot at a colourful white wedding in November last year.
The former beauty queen, who married the serial bed hopper last year, is determined to fight to save her marriage to the disgraced former preacher who has been enjoying sex trysts with their college student neighbour, Rumbidzai Sibanda, 18.
After shutting out the media, Maphala posted pictures of herself and Phiri - founder of micro-lender, Nissi Finance - on Facebook having dinner with his daughter, Prudence, from a previous relationship.
And in a bizarre WhatsApp status, she announced to friends: "Reading between the lines but in denial."
But friends say she is privately in turmoil at the betrayal - the latest in a string of sex scandals involving Phiri, who was once involved in an office romance with an employee, while at the same time dating Maphala.
"She has been to dark places, emotionally, in her relationship to Sonny. She will try and project a tough exterior, but all this is taking a toll on her and their marriage," said a pal last night.
And in another cryptic message on Facebook yesterday, which some read as a note to Phiri to be true to her marriage vows, she said: "Speech has no value unless it can be translated into action!"
Phiri, who calls himself reverend after leading the ill-fated Day of the Pentecostal Church, which collapsed after he fled the country over claims he had sex with an underage girl, has reached out to his teenage mistress' family after her father called him "disgraceful".
A source said: "Phiri is quite keen to make peace with his teenage lover's family. You don't want to cross this girl's father, he's a professional hunter."
Talks are planned this week at which he is expected to apologise.
Yesterday, Phiri - who recently splashed on a BMW 3 Series for Maphala - was at his office in the city, but staff had been instructed to say he was away. His wife, who works for the company, was also not taking calls.
Rumbidzai told our sister paper, Sunday News, that she hooked up with Phiri on Facebook three years ago and they have been inseparable since. She would have been 15 at the time, raising the possibility of criminal charges.
Rumbidzai, according to Sunday News, was previously a congregant at Phiri's church, along with her family, and had recently discussed moving in with the married businessman.
"We have it all planned," she boasted.
She was not bothered that he is married to the Miss Zimbabwe 2005 winner, declaring: "I don't care about her as long as I'm rich."
Phiri and Maphala were customarily married in 2011 before tying the knot at a colourful white wedding in November last year.
Source - chronicle
