Man flees wife & 9 kids, moves in with in-laws

A 60-year-old man from Matetsi outside Victoria Falls abandoned his wife and nine children and moved in with his in-laws, staying with them for six years, a magistrate heard.

This came to light when Mabhonzo Sibanda of Breakfast Village in Matetsi was dragged to the maintenance court by his wife Anneta Ndlovu who wanted the court to compel him to take care of their four minor children.

Sibanda was staying with his wife's brothers' family.

Sibanda left the court stunned when he claimed he left his family because of his wife's infidelity.

Victoria Falls resident magistrate Sharon Rosemani quizzed him why he moved into his in-laws' place when he had a problem with his wife.

The couple was married in 1981 and has nine children, four of them still minor. "I found her with a man. We discussed the issue but she did it again and I left home when my kids killed a neighbour's cow and her brother said I should come to his place of residence so he could help me pay back the beast," Sibanda told Rosemani.

The magistrate asked Sibanda why he would desert his wife because he no longer wanted her and move in with her family. Sibanda responded: "I had no problems with my in-laws. But what she was doing was not good and I had to leave her for two years."

However, while Sibanda claimed he was away for two years, the woman claimed he abandoned her and the children for six years and she had to move out of their matrimonial homestead to build another one as a "widow" in the same village.

Sibanda said there was no more love between him and Ndlovu and told the court he did not want her to disturb his newly found peace as he applied for a protection order against her. The woman said she still loved her husband.

"I still love my husband but if he says he no longer loves me I will accept. Won't he threaten me again if I get a man?" asked Ndlovu.

But Sibanda would have none of it saying he doesn't want to see her with another man.

He also sought the court's protection against his minor daughter who he said disrespects him by calling him an improper dad. "My daughter does not respect me. I want to caution her because she says I am a boring father. This woman goes around gossiping about me saying I am not a man as there are better men than me out there," said Sibanda.

The magistrate responded: "Your problem with this woman is complicated but not for somebody else to solve. You are not sure whether you do not want her to move on with her life. Decide on what you want. A protection order is meant to protect you from somebody who disturbs your peace but when she just passes by there is no problem just ignore her. As for your daughter, you are the father, do what you should do as her father.

"Put your feet on the ground. Your application for a protection order is dismissed."

The woman dismissed her husband's infidelity claims as a mere ploy to avoid paying maintenance.

The magistrate ordered Sibanda to pay $120 per month for the four children until they are 18 years old.