Man ordered to pay US$3000 damages for tricking wife into paying her bride price
A man from Chigodora in Zimbabwe, has been ordered by a court to pay US$3000 in damages after he tricked his wife into paying her own bride price.
In court, it was established that the man identified as Kenny Mlambo reportedly tricked his wife Jennifer Maparanyanga into paying her own bride price after he asked her to loan him US$300.
Jennifer who has filed for divorce from Kenny, tearfully recounted how her life transformed into a nightmare the moment she sought the return of the money she had loaned him.
Accompanied by her father, Phineas Maparanyanga, Jennifer revealed the harrowing ordeal she faced. Jennifer recalled how, out of her love for Mlambo, she had agreed to lend him the lobola money. She claims that he told her that he only had US$600, so she agreed to loan him to supplement his funds.
She said;
“He told me that he wanted to marry me but only had US$600, which to him was very little and disrespectful to my father. I lent him US$300 to top up his money. He promised to pay back the money the following month but failed to do so.”
Jennifer revealed that Mlambo’s demeanour drastically changed after she requested the repayment of the money. She lamented her husband’s abusive behaviour and neglect after he finally paid her back, claiming he denied her conjugal rights and ceased providing for the family, insisting she use the $300 instead.
Her father expressed dismay upon discovering that his daughter had inadvertently paid her own lobola. He accused Mlambo of deceit and demanded reparations for the deception.
Phineas said; “She burst into tears, confessing that she had unknowingly paid her own lobola. I was hurt because Mlambo tricked my daughter. Up to now I am still hurt because he is staying with my daughter for ‘free’.” Mlambo counter-accused Jennifer of tarnishing his reputation regarding his alleged performance in bed, despite her pregnancy. Seeking a divorce, appealed to Headman Chigodora to persuade the Maparanyanga family to take back their daughter.
In a compelling ruling, Headman Chigodora condemned Mlambo’s actions as an abomination, demanding restitution. Mlambo was ordered to pay damages of US$3,000 to the Maparanyanga family for the deception and disrespect exhibited during the lobola process.
“You did not pay any lobola to the Maparanyangas since it was their daughter’s money that you paid them during the lobola ceremony. What you did was very disrespectful to your in-laws and your wife. You are a trickster, and for that, you need to work hard and pay the damages to them.”
