News / Local
Spurned man demands lobola back
29 Nov 2015 at 06:55hrs | Views
A DISGRUNTLED Bulawayo man who could not stomach being divorced by his wife stunned the court after he demanded that his wife pays him back lobola for them to go their separate ways.
Raphael Mthombeni, a Zesa employee who resides in Mpopoma, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Evelyn Mashavakure accused of abusing his wife, Geraldine Mangwana.
Mangwana told the court that she wants to divorce her husband of three years as he has become abusive.
She, however, asked the court to help her find ways to pay back the lobola which her husband paid for her.
"I can longer be with the respondent. As I am trying to go separate ways, he insists that I pay back his lobola.
"Can you kindly assist me in ensuring that this issue of paying him back his lobola can be solved because it is giving me sleepless nights," she said.
Mthombeni confirmed he wanted his lobola but said the issue was not for the court as they were in the process of meeting their elders to solve their problems.
"She has to pay back my lobola but that is not an issue which has to be discussed in the forum.
"We are meeting as two families in few weeks' time to discuss on that issue. Above all, can you just give her whatever she wants," said Mthombeni.
Ms Mashavakure said the court cannot rule on lobola but advised the couple to approach their respective families to solve whatever problems they have.
Mangwana had earlier narrated how her husband has been ill-treating her.
Mangwana pleaded with the magistrate to bar him from visiting and communicating with her.
"I was customarily married to the responded since 2012.
"The respondent is very abusive, he forced me to move in with him against our agreement.
"When I explained to him that I could not move in, he took my property and put it in his house.
"The respondent then sexually forced himself on me in August and I failed to report the matter to the police because he kept on emphasising that he has the right to sexually abuse me because he paid lobola.
"The respondent has been harassing and insulting me.
"I am now afraid of losing my life because the respondent has been threatening to burn down the house," said Mangwana.
The magistrate ordered the respondent not to physically, emotionally and sexually abuse the applicant.
Raphael Mthombeni, a Zesa employee who resides in Mpopoma, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Evelyn Mashavakure accused of abusing his wife, Geraldine Mangwana.
Mangwana told the court that she wants to divorce her husband of three years as he has become abusive.
She, however, asked the court to help her find ways to pay back the lobola which her husband paid for her.
"I can longer be with the respondent. As I am trying to go separate ways, he insists that I pay back his lobola.
"Can you kindly assist me in ensuring that this issue of paying him back his lobola can be solved because it is giving me sleepless nights," she said.
Mthombeni confirmed he wanted his lobola but said the issue was not for the court as they were in the process of meeting their elders to solve their problems.
"She has to pay back my lobola but that is not an issue which has to be discussed in the forum.
"We are meeting as two families in few weeks' time to discuss on that issue. Above all, can you just give her whatever she wants," said Mthombeni.
Ms Mashavakure said the court cannot rule on lobola but advised the couple to approach their respective families to solve whatever problems they have.
Mangwana had earlier narrated how her husband has been ill-treating her.
Mangwana pleaded with the magistrate to bar him from visiting and communicating with her.
"I was customarily married to the responded since 2012.
"The respondent is very abusive, he forced me to move in with him against our agreement.
"When I explained to him that I could not move in, he took my property and put it in his house.
"The respondent then sexually forced himself on me in August and I failed to report the matter to the police because he kept on emphasising that he has the right to sexually abuse me because he paid lobola.
"The respondent has been harassing and insulting me.
"I am now afraid of losing my life because the respondent has been threatening to burn down the house," said Mangwana.
The magistrate ordered the respondent not to physically, emotionally and sexually abuse the applicant.
Source - sundaynews
