Married woman caught pants down

A dramatic domestic dispute in Mutare escalated to a suicide attempt after a woman was allegedly caught in a compromising situation with another man, prompting police and community intervention.

Abigail Button survived the incident after reportedly ingesting poison, and was rushed to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital, where doctors successfully saved her life. The events unfolded at Chief Mutasa's community court last Saturday, where DNA tests were ordered on clothing allegedly left behind by Tendai Dzanza, the man accused of involvement in the affair by Button's husband, Edmund Mhlanga.

Mhlanga, from Muchena Village, testified that he returned home unexpectedly on May 27 and found evidence suggesting his wife was being unfaithful. He recounted overhearing Button arranging for someone to come to their home and instructing them to confirm that he was away in Mutare. Growing suspicious, Mhlanga went into hiding and later observed a man approaching the house.

He described gaining entry through a broken window and discovering Button and Dzanza under blankets in the bedroom. "I pulled off the blankets and saw the man I have always been seeing around. The two were naked. I confronted them calmly, without violence," Mhlanga told the court. Dzanza allegedly grabbed his trousers and fled, while Mhlanga went to summon neighbours. Unbeknownst to him, Button ingested poison in fear and was later hospitalised for four days.

After her discharge, Button reportedly stayed with their daughter in Mutare and filed for a protection order against Mhlanga. The matter was subsequently referred to Chief Mutasa's community court. Mhlanga presented clothes he claimed Dzanza left behind, including a jacket, T-shirt, and shoe, as evidence of the alleged infidelity.

Dzanza, however, denied the accusations, claiming he had been called by Button to help resolve marital disagreements and did not engage in any inappropriate behaviour. "Those clothes do not belong to me. I was not caught in his house," he insisted.

Button gave her own account, admitting she had contacted Dzanza but denied the affair. She told the court that her suicide attempt stemmed from long-standing abuse by her husband and persistent accusations of promiscuity. "I took the poison out of frustration, not because he caught me red-handed. I am faithful to him, yet he constantly accuses me," she said.

Chief Mutasa expressed concern over the conflicting testimonies, stating that the matter would be clarified through DNA testing on the disputed clothing. He warned that the results would determine the next course of action, emphasizing that false claims and attempts to mislead the court would not be tolerated.

The case, which has drawn significant attention in the village, remains ongoing as authorities await the DNA results.