HARARE, Zimbabwe – A dramatic courtroom showdown unfolded yesterday as two women, embroiled in a bitter feud over a shared lover, aired their grievances before Magistrate Sharon Mashavire.
Sharon Zhuwawo made shocking allegations, claiming she was coerced into 15 abortions and suffered a miscarriage before being abandoned by her lover, Goodwill Ndarama.
Zhuwawo pointed fingers at Ndarama’s wife, Valentine Mahlupeko, accusing her of orchestrating the repeated terminations.
“Valentine was the one who brainwashed Goodwill to take me to have all those abortions,” Zhuwawo told the court.
She further claimed, “She always told me that I would never bear a child as long as she is alive.”
Consumed by bitterness and a desire for retribution, Zhuwawo issued chilling threats in open court: “I will not stop until I get my revenge on her given I went through 15 abortions, a miscarriage, and ended up being divorced with Goodwill opting for his seven other girlfriends… I will not rest until she dies.”
Magistrate Mashavire responded sternly, cautioning Zhuwawo against taking the law into her own hands. “War will never be a solution to the tension between the two of you. You are advised that if you break the rules stated by the court, you will be held accountable,” she warned.
Undeterred, Zhuwawo insisted that she was not merely Ndarama’s lover but his wife of six years.
“I am not a side-chick but Goodwill’s wife and we have been married for six years,” she declared. She further asserted that Mahlupeko was fully aware of their marriage, having participated in the lobola negotiations.
Mahlupeko presented a different narrative, claiming her ordeal began when Ndarama ended his relationship with Zhuwawo and began seeing other women. She told the court that seven girlfriends were involved, a revelation that allegedly fueled Zhuwawo’s anger and triggered the ongoing conflict.
“She calls me every night threatening to kill me after my husband left her for his seven girlfriends,” Mahlupeko testified.
She detailed a campaign of harassment, alleging that Zhuwawo repeatedly confronts her at home, blaming her for the dissolved relationship with Ndarama.
Mahlupeko also recounted a disturbing threat by Zhuwawo to leave her miscarried child at her doorstep.
“Two weeks after she miscarried, she blamed me for the incident, calling me a witch,” Mahlupeko added.
Fearing for her safety, Mahlupeko sought a peace order against Zhuwawo. This complex and emotionally charged case lays bare the devastating consequences of infidelity and the deep-seated resentments it can engender. The allegations of repeated abortions, coupled with claims of threats and harassment, paint a disturbing picture of a relationship gone tragically wrong.
The court’s role will be to determine the truth amidst the conflicting narratives and ensure the safety and well-being of all involved.
