'Money-spinning' g' ' tortoise tears s family apart rt
BUSINESS was brought to a halt in Mutare City Centre on Monday when a Murambi woman accused her husband of possessing a tortoise and forcing their children to take snuff as part of fortune enhancing rituals. People queuing to withdraw money at POSB Bank were treated to a free drama as socialite Maxwell Masimba ordered his wife, Thulani Masimba and her mother, to give him his children.
As the couple was coming from a court hearing, Maxwell went berserk just outside the court gates and shouted at his mother-inlaw, accusing her of influencing his wife to leave him.
“I will not sit back while you destroy my family. I want my family back. I want my children, they are not yours. When I was rich you didn’t ask your daughter to leave me as you were also benefitting. Now that I am broke, you are influencing her to leave me,” he fumed.
Thulani recently left the couple’s matrimonial home and is staying with her mother.
She has since filed a protection order application and appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Lazarus Murendo over the matter.
In her protection order application, Thulani told the court that her husband is a ritualist who uses fortune enhancing charms that are giving her sleepless nights.
“When we relocated to Murambi, there was a tortoise at the residential stand. The house was built within a few months and the tortoise remained with us. Maxwell has ensured the safety of that tortoise.
“My life was in danger when I was living with him and that’s why I opted out of the marriage. I was being used by his charms in my sleep. In fact, I do not want to relive those memories because it was hell living with him,” said Thulani.
She also accused her husband of forcing their children to consult traditional healers.
The children are aged 14 and nine, while the other one is newly born.
“He forces the children to partake in his rituals. He also forces them to put on beads and cloths around their waists.
“At one time, he picked our son from school without my knowledge and proceeded to Mozambique to consult a traditional healer. I was informed by the school authorities that he had picked the child and l had to track him down,” she said.
Mr Murendo granted the protection order in Thulani’s favour.
Maxwell also had to approach the courts to seek access to his children and this time around, the couple appeared before magistrate Ms Notebulgar Muchineripi.
Thulani opposed Maxwell’s application.
The matter was adjourned to October 22 to allow Thulani to process her opposing papers.
Maxwell, however, begged the court to order his wife to see a counsellor.
“This is an embarrassment.
It is ridiculous and she needs counselling. Your Worship, you should tell her to stop this madness. When these children grow up, they will ask her why she tore the family apart in this manner,” he said.
Ms Muchineripi, however, told Maxwell that Thulani has the right to file opposing affidavits.