Sugar mommy battles Ben-10

A 13-year relationship between a Rusape woman and her former live-in partner has ended in a dramatic dispute before Chief Makoni's community court, with the traditional leader ruling that both parties had equally invested their time in the relationship.

Lainah Twakali (49) brought her former partner, George Chipunda (37), before the court seeking compensation of three cattle or US$1,000, arguing that he had promised to marry her but failed to honour that commitment after more than a decade of cohabitation.

The couple reportedly met while working on a farm in Headlands in 2013 and subsequently began living together.

Twakali, a widow and mother of five with 12 grandchildren, told the court that Chipunda had promised marriage despite being aware of her family circumstances.

"I stayed with Chipunda for 13 years after he promised to marry me. He did not fulfil his promise all these years, and that is why I brought this case before the court," she said.

She claimed that during their years together they worked on farms, developed a homestead, built a house and installed a borehole. Twakali also sought a share of assets accumulated during the relationship, including livestock and building materials.

According to her testimony, Chipunda's family was aware of their relationship and had encouraged her to help him settle down after several previous failed relationships.

However, Chipunda rejected the allegations, arguing that it was Twakali who had wasted his time and insisting that property acquired during their relationship had already been shared fairly.

He told the court that the couple had lived together from 2013 until 2026 but denied owing her further compensation.

"May this court ask this woman to produce her national identity card and see the age difference between us? I stayed with her from 2013 to 2026. Staying with this woman was more of force," he said.

Chipunda alleged that Twakali repeatedly claimed to be pregnant, prompting him to make preparations for a child, only for the claims to prove untrue.

He further accused her of taking roofing sheets and other property when the relationship ended.

According to Chipunda, the couple divided their assets in the presence of police special constabulary officers after separating.

"We had two pigs which I later sold as I was struggling with feed costs," he said.

After hearing both sides, Chief Makoni concluded that neither party could claim to have had their time wasted because both willingly cohabited for many years.

"From the evidence presented in this court it is clear that you all wasted each other's time cohabiting. No party can say its time was wasted. Both of you had previous marriages," the chief ruled.

The court also found that the issue of property sharing had already been addressed.

Chief Makoni ordered Chipunda to compensate Twakali with either one pig or US$120 and to pay court costs amounting to US$45.

"You were just a boyfriend and girlfriend, so there is no issue of a divorce token," the chief said in his ruling.

The case highlights the challenges that can arise when long-term cohabiting couples separate, particularly where expectations of marriage, property ownership and financial contributions become points of dispute.