Chief decries rise in adultery

Chief Vimbai Toringepi of Copper Queen Farms in Gokwe North has expressed deep concern over a perceived decline in marital values, revealing that adultery cases now dominate his community court.

Speaking to the Masvingo Mirror during a recent tour of Dewe Wetlands, Chief Toringepi said he handles between four and five adultery cases each month, a trend he believes reflects a broader erosion of respect for marriage. He noted that many of these cases involve married women engaging in affairs with younger men or even other married partners.

"Most cases we are handling nowadays are adultery cases involving married women with single boys and even other married men. It is a pity how women no longer respect their marriages and have extra-marital affairs," he said. Chief Toringepi lamented that the younger generation, which he referred to as "ama 2k," is showing a disregard for traditional human dignity and marital commitment.

The traditional leader also highlighted concerns over child marriage, saying that while such cases are referred directly to the police, many go unreported due to fear within communities. "When it comes to child marriages, we refer them to the police directly. However, the challenge is that most of these cases go unreported because villagers are afraid of reporting each other. The law is there, but people are still doing it and the cases just disappear," he explained.

Chief Toringepi urged communities to confront harmful practices openly, warning that silence only allows social decay to worsen. He emphasized the need for collective action to uphold cultural and social values that protect the institution of marriage and the welfare of children.