Adulterous woman ordered to pay US$1 500 in damages

The Civil Court in Harare has ordered a woman who was having an adulterous affair with a married man to pay his wife US$1 500 in damages in a case that could trigger an avalanche of such lawsuits.

Mary Musonza was last week adjudged to have caused emotional stress to Mrs Debra Chideya by having an intimate relationship with the latter's husband, Kudakwashe.

Civil Court magistrate Tatenda Manhanzva ordered Musonza to pay US$1 500 in damages.
Mrs Chideya was claiming compensation amounting to US$4 000.

Magistrate Manhanzva ruled that Musonza's decision to enter into an adulterous relationship with Kudakwashe tarnished Mrs Chideya's reputation, caused her emotional pain and put her at risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections such as HIV.

Musonza, however, claimed to be customarily married to Kudakwashe.

"I am married to Kudakwashe, who first paid a deposit of US$500 for my lobola in 2009 before paying another US$2 000 as damage to my father as we have a child together," said Musonza, who brought her father to court as a witness.

Kudakwashe admitted to having an adulterous relationship with Musonza, but denied paying lobola.
"
Mary knew of my marital status when we entered this relationship and there was never a time we talked about marriage.

"At one time, she insisted that we visit her family, but I refused to do so because I am customarily married to Debra," he said.