HARARE-A PROMINENT BUSINESSWOMAN, who was the fourth wife in a polygamous marriage, has left her husband claiming she is fed up with him having adulterous affairs with her married friend and sister.
Judith Maruta, 33, is a businesswoman in Domboshava.
She has been embroiled in a bitter dispute with her polygamous husband, Kefas Mushore (50), which erupted when she found out that he was bedding her married friend and her sister.
Judith says her marriage collapsed after she found out that Kefas, on top of his four wives, was also having an affair with another married woman and the businesswoman’s sister.
She identified the two women as Primrose Mutare and Tabeth Banda.
Tabeth is Judith’s cousin sister.
Primrose was once married to Kefa’s cousin, Success Mavhunga.
She has since been taken in by Kefas as his fifth wife.
Judith and Kefas separated and she sought maintenance for their two children – aged four, one year and three months.
Today, Judith and Kefas are expected to appear before Domboshava magistrate, Alfred Chinembiri, for a hearing on an upward variation of maintenance, amounting to US$35 per child.
The two are expected to appear before the same magistrate who handled their criminal case when Judith stabbed Kefas following a domestic dispute.
Narrating her ordeal, Judith said she spent about two weeks in remand prison with her children after she stabbed Kefas on the leg.
She claims the attack followed years of abuse and, in particular, anger over his relationships with Primrose and Tabeth.
“I failed to stomach a situation where my husband was bedding my married friend and sister,” said Judith.
She said a physical confrontation with Kefas escalated until he overpowered her.
She said she then grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed him.
After the incident, she was arrested and taken to court, where she was fined US$500.
She was also ordered to pay US$563 in restitution for damaging Kefas’ vehicle.
Following her release, she said Kefas served her with a Protection Order and demanded US$50,000, claiming it was for the injury, which he suffered, when she stabbed him.
He claimed he was now unable to walk.
She said she regretted her decision to enter the polygamous marriage.
“I regret the polygamous marriage, it has left me without some of my properties, including two houses and a car,” she said.
Judith said her life has since become “miserable” and she blamed Kefas for all this.
No comment could be obtained from Kefas.
Tabeth told H-Metro that Kefas had been giving her money she could not resist since her husband is based in South Africa.
“Mushore had been assisting me with money behind my sister’s back and I could not reject everything he was assisting me with.
“I could not disclose his love intentions to my sister because it could have caused more problems.
“After she came to know about it, my sister confronted me angrily and I confirmed dating her husband.
“Mushore had been assisting me so as to win my favour in case his shenanigans with other women was to be known.
“After all Judith was his fourth wife and another woman was divorced because of her, saka ngaasiyane neni,” said Tabeth.
