HARARE – A Harare woman, Christine Meda, is seeking US$60,000 in adultery damages from Millicent Juliet Matshazi of Bulawayo, accusing her of destroying her 13-year marriage to Talent Nyazaya. Meda alleges that Matshazi’s adulterous affair with her husband resulted in the birth of a child and has caused her immense emotional distress and suffering.
The case, filed at the High Court under case number HCHF 2523/24, details a marriage that Meda claims was thriving until Matshazi entered the picture. According to court documents, Christine and Talent were married on December 21, 2012, under the Marriages Act (Chapter 5:17). The union produced two children.
Meda’s legal claim hinges on the assertion that Matshazi was fully aware of her husband’s marital status when she allegedly embarked on the affair, which Meda says began in November 2022. The court papers claim that Matshazi was seen on several occasions with Nyazaya in compromising situations.
Meda claims that she confronted Matshazi on numerous occasions, but Matshazi denied the affair despite the existence of WhatsApp pictures and intimate correspondence. The court documents further allege that Nyazaya deceived his wife on at least one occasion, claiming he was attending a workshop when he was, in fact, meeting Matshazi. Meda says she discovered the truth when Nyazaya’s boss informed her that the company had not organised any workshops.
According to the court papers, Millicent called Christine in December 2023 and apologised for snatching her husband.
Meda further alleges that Matshazi became pregnant and gave birth in June 2024, with Nyazaya subsequently adding the child to the family’s medical aid scheme. Meda claims that in early June last year, Matshazi even parked her car in the yard of their matrimonial home.
The situation at home has deteriorated significantly, according to Meda. She claims her husband evicted her from their matrimonial bedroom and locked it, forcing her to sleep in the spare bedroom.
To aggravate the situation, Talent has since filed for divorce and he is claiming that he has lost love and affection for Christine.
As a result of Matshazi’s alleged actions, Meda claims she has been subjected to embarrassment, insults, and indignity, causing her significant suffering, emotional strain, trauma, heartbreak, and mental distress.
She is therefore demanding US$60,000 in adultery damages, broken down as US$30,000 for contumelia (intentional insult or affront) and US$30,000 for loss of consortium (loss of companionship, affection, and sexual relations).
However, Millicent, through her defence counsel, is raising some objections to the claimsby Christine.
She has also questioned the money being demanded.
