Nomalanga Khumalo in 'domestic' violence scuffle with married lover

Former Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ms Nomalanga Khumalo is reported to have been involved in a bloody scuffle with her 60 year old married lover.

Khumalo who is affectionately known as MaKhumalo in Umzingwane constituency which she represented in the last parliament is reported to have been involved in the dirty scuffle in her house sometime last week. According to a report from a relative very close to the former legislature, MaKhumalo quarrelled with her lover identified as Siphambaniso Dube of Ntabazinduna over an undisclosed matter resulting in her picking up a kitchen knife threatening to stab her lover. The man is said to have managed to wrestle the knife away from the enraged politician and in the process pushed her against a wall which she hit head first before falling on the floor on her back.

MaKhumalo immediately made a report to a local police station leading to Dube's arrest. While in custody the man is reported to have called his wife bidding her farewell without disclosing what had happened to him. The wife is reported to have then called her elderly children about their father's threats.

The children who were well aware of their father's illicit relationship with the former MDC Parliamentarian immediately called her to try and understand what was happening. Without giving details and perhaps out of compassion or affection, MaKhumalo is reported to have rushed to the poilice station to withdraw the case and the man's immediate release before ordering him to go back home to his wife and children.

The former Deputy Speaker is reported to have suffered a torn tongue which required a minor surgery and some facial bruises and was treated and discharged at a local health centre.

In a women's gathering in Bulawayo in 2011, while she was still the Deputy Speaker of Parliament MaKhumalo urged woman never to find themselves turning violent against their husbands (and perhaps lovers too). Addressing the over 2 500 women who had gathered at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) for the 2011 national launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, Khumalo said the laws would be strengthened to deal with both male and female gender-based violence offenders.

"In Parliament, we want to strengthen laws and ensure that a man or woman who abuses their partner, should go to jail for a long time," she said.

Also making runs in the media of late is an increase in the number of divorces particularly amongst the elder people and most of them in community, religious or political positions of authority as a result of extra marital relationships known in the country as small houses.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has also reported and warned of an increase in number of married partners dying due numerous reasons at small houses' place of residence. An immediate case that comes to mind is the recent death of a Masvingo business lady who died while in a jolly act with a high court judge.

Efforts to get comment from Ms Khumalo were futile as her mobile phone was not reachable much of the weekend. The family relative was however adamant that the incident happened as narrated a fact that was confirmed by another relative who even wanted to provide Bulawayo 24 with details of both Dube and his lawful wife for verification.