The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube Weekender Correspondent
BUSINESS was on Monday morning brought to a standstill in Mutare’s Central Business District after an emotionally-charged Mutare woman confronted her estranged husband and his second wife over issues of alleged ill-treatment.
The incident baffled on-lookers who drew closer to watch the free-for-all drama as the tearful and bitter woman identified as Edina shouted at her hubby, Mutare businessman Zephania Chitembwe and his second wife Tsitsi, questioning him on why he was ill-treating her particularly at their work place, situated in the city.
Edina revealed that she has been receiving unfair treatment yet she co-owned the company. Their love candle has also blown off as they are now residing separately. Zephania is now staying in Tsvingwe while Edina resides in Penhalonga.
Zephania momentarily turns to Weekender reporters and warned them against taking any pictures. (Pictures by Liberty Dube and Heggar Mavhiza)
Edina sobbed bitterly as she chronicled how her heart has been torn apart by Zephania who was seated in his vehicle — a Ford Ranger alongside a woman identified as Tsitsi who was carrying a four-month old baby.
She said she was deeply saddened that proceeds from their company are now used to take care of Tsitsi and their four-month old baby.
Tsitsi, who is a nurse at Mutare Provincial Hospital, had disembarked from the car and was standing outside in bewilderment and trepidation.
What sparked the row was when Edina spotted Zephania and Tsitsi driving around town and the former followed them. Edina told Tsitsi to disembark from the vehicle and sit at the back seat while she took up the front passenger seat. Tsitsi complied after the car had stopped but she could not get in as Edina was already emotionally-charged.
Long lenses of The Weekender caught up with them. Tsitsi, having realised that Kodak moments were upon her, took to her heels covering her face. She refused to entertain The Weekender.
Second wife Tsitsi shies away from The Weekender camera lenses while Diana confronts her estranged hubby and second wife (insert).
Zephania who was in the car shouted: “Don’t take me pictures, I will sue you.” Zephania then drove off when Edina had not yet settled on the passenger seat and nearly fell off since the door was still open.
Edina, later visited the Manica Post offices and tearfully-chronicled how life has been a bed of thorns. “He is still my husband although he is now customarily married to Tsitsi.
“We got married about 30 years ago. I was a Seventh Day Adventist. I loved him a lot before he left the SDA and started attending Church of God and Saints of Christ (a breakaway of SDA). I followed him in the name of love.
“I am now living like a widow. Even at work he doesn’t treat me like I co-own that company. We have been living separately for the past 20 years. We are still legally married under Chapter 5:11 but he has since moved out of our matrimonial home.
“He does not consult me on business issues. I caught them together red-handed and I am happy that I got the opportunity to address my concerns in front of both of them. Yes it is allowed (for him) to forget about me but I have worked for this company for many years and all I need is to be treated as a human being. It’s painful that some workers even receive better treatment,” said the dejected Edina.
Edina later returned to The Manica Post and pleaded with the newspaper to stop publishing the story, arguing that it would damage the family’s name. “Family members have advised me against having the story published in the paper. So please do not publish it,’’ she said. But The Weekender could not stop publishing a story which happened on the streets.
Incessant efforts to contact Zephania on his Econet line proved futile as his phone went unanswered.
He also could not respond to questions sent to him through his WhatsApp number. He instead sent a five-second audio recording of people talking from afar.
