Man ordered to pay 6 cattle for stealing married woman

An Odzi man has been ordered to pay six cattle in compensation and fines after a traditional court found him guilty of engaging in an adulterous relationship with a married woman and taking her away from her visually impaired husband.

The case was heard at a traditional court after Emio Sananguro of Gandidzanwa Village accused January Garikai of breaking up his 26-year marriage by eloping with his wife.

Sananguro told the court that Garikai had taken advantage of his visual impairment to pursue a relationship with his wife before eventually moving in with her at Kennard Farm Compound, where the two have allegedly been living together for about two weeks.

According to Sananguro, Garikai had been a frequent visitor to his homestead before his wife left the matrimonial home.

"January Garikai took my wife and has been staying with her for the past two weeks. He took advantage of my blindness to do that. He frequently visited my home to see my wife and is now living with her at Kennard Farm Compound," he said.

Sananguro, who was visibly distressed during the proceedings, told the court that he and his wife were legally married and produced their marriage certificate as evidence.

"I married my wife at the Civil Court under Section 115 of the Marriage Act. I have brought a copy of the marriage certificate as an exhibit. I am not sure whether Garikai owns any livestock at the compound where he is staying," he said.

Garikai did not attend the proceedings despite reportedly having been properly served with summons to appear before the court.

After considering the evidence, Chief Makoni found Garikai guilty of adultery under aggravating circumstances.

In his judgment, the traditional leader said Garikai had deliberately exploited Sananguro's disability to lure away his wife, leaving him without a spouse after more than two decades of marriage.

"Garikai took advantage of Sananguro's condition to lure his wife. As matters stand, Sananguro no longer has a wife," Chief Makoni ruled.

The court ordered Garikai to pay Sananguro five cattle as compensation and imposed an additional fine of one beast, bringing the total number of cattle to six.

Garikai was also ordered to meet Sananguro's legal costs amounting to US$80.

Because he failed to appear in court despite being summoned, the traditional court further imposed a fine of three goats.

The case highlights the role traditional courts continue to play in resolving certain family and customary disputes in Zimbabwe, particularly matters involving marriage, adultery and compensation under customary law.