Two-timing boyfriend dragged to court

TWO formally employed Gweru women recently teamed up against their two-timing boyfriend and dragged him to the magistrate's court after he stole their property, including a car, which he intended to use to lure a third lover.

Anthony Farai Magama (34) pleaded not guilty to stealing a car, a Toyota Harrier, belonging to one of his girlfriends, Ms Audrey Karemba, and $2 500 from his other girlfriend, Ms Pamela Tavaya, before travelling to Harare to meet his other "secret admirer".

Ms Karemba is employed by TelOne while Ms Tavaya is employed at mobile company, Telecel, Zimbabwe, Gweru branch.

Regional magistrate Mr Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe remanded Magama in custody to today for continuation of trial.

The court was left in stitches when the two women, all heavily built, testified against their boyfriend who they both labelled "poor" and thrived on "a sweet tongue" to lure women to fall for him.

"I am even regretting why I got into a relationship with him in the first place because he is just a poor man who is after rich ladies. He is a womaniser with a sweet tongue that he uses to lure women," said Ms Tavaya.

Interestingly, Magama chose to divert from his mother tongue to give his evidence in English, a language he proved to have a good command of.

The accused did not even stammer under cross-examination.

For the State, Mr Michael Mhene said on 17 January, Magama who was simultaneously in a relationship with both Ms Karemba and Ms Tavaya, took a Toyota Harrier registration number, ABP5230, which belonged to the former complainant.

Mr Mhene said when he took the car, Magama lied to Ms Karemba that he wanted to attend a job interview in Harare on the same day, but instead, drove to his other girlfriend, Ms Tavaya's place in the Gweru central business district.

At Ms Tavaya's place, Magama pretended as if the car was his.

Mr Mhene said Magama then spent some days at Tavaya's house still holding onto Ms Karemba's vehicle before he then asked for $ 500 from Ms Tavaya.

The court heard that after taking the money from Ms Tavaya, Magama drove to Harare where he met another woman.

Mr Mhene said prior to the Harare trip, the accused had on different occasions taken the two complainants' laptops and never returned the property.

The court heard that Ms Karemba and Ms Tavaya, who had both been promised marriage  by Magama, later connected with each other before they made a police report against their boyfriend.

Magama was later arrested leading to the recovery of the Toyota Harrier.

The other stolen property was not recovered.