‘Marry her first before divorcing’
A of four is begging the courts to persuade his in-laws to accept a divorce token he has been constantly giving his wife of 20 years.
Rodgers Zimunya told Mutare magistrate, Mr Lazarus Murendo, that his wife, Charity Nderere’s parents were refusing to accept his divorce token and ordering their daughter to get back to him despite their unending marital problems.
“They are ordering me to settle the bride price first before I divorce her, but we have been together for 20 years. Why didn’t they tell me to pay it all along?” said Zimunya.
He said he had lost trust in Nderere because of her association and interaction with illegal gold panners in Penhalonga.
Zimunya said he had parted ways with Nderere on countless occasions and giving her a divorce token, but she always bounces back, claiming that her parents had refused to accept it.
“I have tried to stop her from dealing with illegal gold panners on numerous occasions, but she always turns a deaf ear. I have had enough of her shenanigans and I want her out of my life. I want to marry another wife. In fact, I already have someone in mind,” he told the court.
Zimunya also said he suspects that his wife is cheating on him with illegal gold panners and feared for his life.
“I do not want to be infected with sexually transmitted diseases through her. She should just have her family accept the divorce token so that I move on with my life,” said Zimunya.
Nderere had dragged Zimunya to the maintenance court where she was applying for $20 000 monthly maintenance for their four children. She, however, told the court that her parents would not accept the divorce token since Zimunya never traditionally married her.
“He never paid any bride price to my parents, so technically he is not my husband. Your Worship, how is that possible that somebody can divorce a person that he is not married to?
“According to tradition, we have been cohabiting for 20 years and were blessed with four children, so the issue of a divorce token automatically falls off. Rather, he should just leave us if he is no longer interested in our relationship,” said Nderere.
Zimunya who earns $30 000 as his monthly salary was ordered to pay $10 000 for his three minor children every month until they are 18 or self-sufficient.
Mr Murendo told Nderere that their 18-year-old child should make his own maintenance order application if he is still dependent on his parents.