Man demands $10 000 adultery damages

A Harare man, Clifford Mapfumo, has taken his alleged rival suitor Willard Maranga to the civil court where he is demanding $10 000 for adultery damages.

In papers filed at Chitungwiza Civil Court, Mapfumo, through his lawyer Washington Muchandibaya, claimed that Maranga had an adulterous relationship with his wife Wendy Maposvo.

Mapfumo and Maposvo's marriage was solemnised under Chapter 5:11 of the Marriages Act.

Part of the application reads: "Applicant discovered the adulterous relationship in 2009, but defendant was saying he is just a friend fully aware that applicant is legally married to Maposvo and their marriage still subsists."

Mapfumo added: "The adulterous relationship has caused me torment and suffering as I have been continuously deprived of conjugal rights, comfort and the usual husband and wife support."

As a result, he is demanding $5 000 for pains suffered and another $5 000 for indignity.

During trial, Mapfumo told presiding magistrate Nomsa Sabarauta that he caught Maranga in his bedroom.

"It took my wife about six to eight minutes to open the door and when she opened, she rushed to the doorway stating she did not want commotion. I saw Maranga in a corner trying to reposition his clothing as if nothing had happened," he said.

But Maranga denied the alleged adulterous relationship with Mapfumo's wife. The matter was deferred to March 17.