I was tricked - bashed mistress alleges

A Bulawayo woman who was allegedly beaten by her boyfriend's wife has opened up saying the man lied to her about his marital status.

Nicole Mutenda said she fell in love with Rodwell Ndodana Ncube after the alleged lies.

Ndodana was later "force-marched" by his wife Bridget Ncube to his lover's house in Mpopoma suburb to assault her.

She said his excuse for not telling her that he was married was that he did not want to lose her.

Mutenda, who maintained to B-Metro that she was innocent after Rodwell had tricked her for 10 months, spewed venom labelling him a "serial love cheat".

"It was not my fault that I was in love with a married man but Ndodana had lied to me that he was not married. I fell in love with him in September last year until sometime last month when he came with his wife to my house. The wife later assaulted me. Before that unfortunate incident we were in a serious relationship and I had introduced him to my parents, friends and relatives. I believed him when he said that he was single since I was always hanging out with him and I would go to his place of residence where I did not see any sign that he was married. I was surprised when he came to my place of residence in the company of a woman who assaulted me saying I was in love with her husband.

When I asked him why he lied to me he remained quiet before I went and reported the matter to the police, leading to Bridget's arrest," she explained.

She added that Rodwell pained her when he dragged her to the Bulawayo Civil Court seeking a protection order against her claiming she was disturbing his peace and marriage by allegedly refusing to come to terms with the fact that their illicit relationship had ended.

The matter was later dismissed after Rodwell allegedly refused to attend the court while reportedly pleading with her to have an out of court settlement.

The matter of Mutenda's beating spilled into courts at Western Commonage where she later withdrew the charges before plea.