Father-in-law Ordered To Repay Roora With 10% Interest After Daughter Leaves Husband

A traditional leader in Manicaland Province has ordered a father-in-law to refund the bride price paid for his daughter, with 10 per cent annual interest, after she left her marriage and moved in with her husband’s nephew.

Chief Mutasa ruled that the parents of Theresa Zimhuwu (31) must repay the undisclosed bride price received from her husband, Aleck Magadu. Interest will accrue until full payment is made by August 2026.

The case was brought by Magadu, who sought compensation after Zimhuwu abandoned their marriage to cohabit with Hambai Muchakuya (38), Magadu’s neighbour and nephew.

“The bride price is to be paid back with an annual interest because you wasted his time. He thought he had found his lifetime partner, but instead, you cheated on him with his nephew, and went on to stay with him, abandoning your husband and four children,” said Chief Mutasa.

Chief Mutasa said the order was meant to compensate Magadu after the marriage collapsed in circumstances that shocked the court.

Appearing before Chief Mutasa last Saturday, Magadu said the affair had destroyed his family. He told the court he was left to raise their four children after years of marriage.

Magadu said his suspicions arose after he found romantic messages between his wife and his nephew on her mobile phone.

When he confronted Muchakuya, the nephew dismissed the allegations, claiming he had only used Zimhuwu’s phone to contact another married woman.

Magadu said his wife later had a miscarriage, fuelling suspicions that the child might not have been his.

Hoping to save the marriage, Magadu took his wife to Harare, where he was staying. However, he continued finding messages linking her to Muchakuya.

Zimhuwu allegedly left their matrimonial home in January and moved in with Muchakuya while the family was still trying to resolve the couple’s challenges.

In court, Zimhuwu admitted she had fallen in love with Muchakuya before ending her marriage. She said she left because of physical abuse throughout the marriage, which she could no longer endure.

Muchakuya also admitted he had been involved with Zimhuwu while she was married to his uncle.

Chief Mutasa rebuked Muchakuya for pursuing a married woman, particularly his uncle’s wife.

He advised Magadu to consider DNA tests for all four children, saying the admitted affair raised questions only science could settle.

The chief further ordered Muchakuya to pay Magadu seven cattle before the end of September 2026: one for knowingly engaging with a married woman; one for exposing Magadu to possible health risks through unprotected sex with his wife; four for taking another man’s wife while she was still married; and one for taking his uncle’s wife.

Muchakuya was also ordered to hand over seven cocks as part of the compensation.

More: The Manica Post