HARARE – In a dramatic turn of events, the US$16,000 fraud case against prominent gospel musician Dorcas Vambe, popularly known as Mai Dhuterere, has collapsed in the Harare Magistrates’ Court. This development comes amidst swirling rumours of marital strife between Mai Dhuterere and her husband, fellow gospel star Darlington “Mambo Dhuterere” Mutseta, adding another layer of complexity to the already tumultuous situation.
Harare magistrate Tapiwa Banda ruled that the state should proceed by way of summons if it wishes to continue prosecuting the case, effectively removing Mai Dhuterere from remand. This means that while the charges have not been dropped entirely, she is no longer required to regularly appear in court, and the state must now formally summon her if they intend to pursue the matter further.
Vambe had been out on US$100 bail following her arrest in December last year.
It was alleged that in September last year Vambe got information that Magaya wanted to purchase a Toyota Hilux GD6 with a budget of US$16,000.
It was further alleged that Vambe conspired with her brother, Kudakwashe, to defraud Magaya.
“The duo teamed up and approached the complainant stating that they had a car sale in Botswana which had vehicles like the one he was looking for and they told him that his budgeted money would purchase two Toyota Hilux GD6 instead of one,” the state charged.
Magaya allegedly handed over US$16,000, to which she acknowledged receipt through a commissioned affidavit, committing to deliver two Toyota Hilux GD6 vehicles within two weeks, the prosecution said.
The two allegedly converted the money to their personal use.
The court was informed that Vambe later gave Magaya a Ford Ranger that was not registered in Zimbabwe and bore temporary registration plates.
It is further alleged that the two subsequently agreed that Magaya would take the Ford Ranger and pay an additional fee to receive a Mercedes Benz C200 to compensate for the two GD6 vehicles he was supposed to receive initially.
Magaya, the court heard, relaxed and started to use the Ford Ranger, waiting to receive the promised Mercedes Benz C200. But the Ford Ranger was impounded by the police for being used in Zimbabwe with an expired temporary import permit, leading Magaya to file a police complaint against the singer.
The magistrate ruled that the State should proceed by way of summons.
Marriage on the Rocks?
Dhuterere, who recently performed in the United Kingdom over the Easter holidays, declined to comment on the claims when approached by H-Metro. “Don’t mind them…,” was all he offered. His last public post featuring Mai Dhuterere was in November last year, when he wished her a happy birthday, referring to her as his “Queen.”
Contacted for comment, Mai Dhuterere, who sounded distressed, confirmed that she has been abandoned by her husband, who is currently in the United Kingdom for the SAMA Festival.
“I have been keeping this to myself because of my condition. I don’t want to be depressed and end up losing our unborn child. It’s true that he moved out, but I am too weak as a woman to challenge him. Our kids desperately need him, and I am praying he will come back to his senses,” she revealed.
The media-shy Mai Dhuterere also confessed that she has been “bottling this up for years,” hoping that her husband would change his behaviour.
“There are a few people who know about this issue because I have been trying hard to conceal the matter. I don’t usually share our problems, but I have come to a point where I feel I have had enough. I still love him as the father of my children, but the abuse I have endured is too much,” she said, hinting at deeper issues within the marriage.
While Mai Dhuterere was hesitant to divulge further details due to other commitments, a reliable source close to her revealed that the celebrity gospel couple’s problems have been ongoing for several years, with Mai Dhuterere consistently attempting to protect their public image.
According to sources aligned with Mai Dhuterere, the popular musician began acting strangely after learning of her pregnancy.
“Our main concern now is the children because Mai Dhuterere’s condition is dire; she is eight months pregnant and can deliver at any time,” the source stressed, highlighting the vulnerability of the situation.
The source further indicated that Dhuterere left the matrimonial home with his travel documents and clothing, relocating to an undisclosed location.
“He appears to be a nice man in public, but he has been subjecting his wife to ridicule, sometimes blaming her for his bad luck,” the source claimed.
“At one point, Dhuterere accused her of bad luck after he failed to get a car from Sir Wicknell Chivayo. The problem now is that his fallout with Mai Dhuterere is affecting their kids, especially their eldest who doesn’t deserve to be dragged into this mess,” the source added, emphasising the impact of the marital problems on the children.
The source also highlighted Mai Dhuterere’s commitment to the family, noting that “They settled together when she had a child from a previous marriage, and they agreed to adopt the other child. He has completely changed and started moving around with friends, claiming to be running errands.”
“The Final Nail in Their Marriage”
Sources close to the couple suggest that Mai Dhuterere’s arrest and subsequent court appearance in connection with the fraud case may have been the breaking point in their already strained marriage.
“The court case was the final nail in their marriage . . . ” the source claimed.
Adding to Mai Dhuterere’s challenges, she is reportedly living in fear after thieves broke into her rented apartment, stealing a laptop and a cellphone.
“It’s sad that she lost her belongings when the thieves broke in and took her laptop and cellphone. Luckily, she managed to recover her passport, which was dumped in the garden. The thief entered through the window, and there is still evidence of a broken window at the home,” the source recounted.
In an effort to make ends meet, Mai Dhuterere is reportedly now involved in the business of supplying detergents.
This is not the first time the couple has faced marital difficulties. In 2023, Mambo Dhuterere publicly admitted to suffering from depression amid reports of alleged infidelity, which prompted Mai Dhuterere to return to Botswana, where they were previously based.
He announced that he was cancelling show bookings due to his mental health struggles, although he did not explicitly reveal the cause of his depression.
“Have been turning down booking ‘n’ invitations zvaita kuti vamwe vave disappointed in me . . . forgive me. Am down mentally, emotionally, spiritually depressed . . . Just need a little while to pick myself up, I WILL BE BACK. ln God we trust…,” he posted on Facebook at the time.
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