A former soldier, Mike Madzivanyika, is demanding US$3,000 from his uncle, Kenneth Zhou, for allegedly having an adulterous affair with his wife. The drama has spilled into the Harare Civil Court, where Zhou has sought a protection order against his nephew, accusing him of midnight raids and threats of violence.
Zhou told the court that Madzivanyika has been visiting his home at odd hours, demanding compensation for the affair. “Mike is in the habit of coming to my house at midnight demanding US$3,000 for having an affair with his wife. He threatens to burn me inside the house, together with my family, if we fail to pay him,” Zhou said.
He added that the situation has left him living in fear. “The last time he came to my house, I ended up giving him US$15 for him to stop assaulting me. He assaulted me, claiming he is an ex-soldier and he was trained to kill,” Zhou revealed.
Zhou admitted to the affair but pleaded for forgiveness, saying, “Yes, I was wrong to sleep with his wife, but he should forgive me since it has already happened.” He expressed concern over Madzivanyika’s threats, stating, “Mike has been threatening to sleep with my wife if I do not pay him the money which he is demanding. I am now scared to sleep since Mike threatened to burn the house while we are sleeping.”
Madzivanyika did not deny the allegations. He explained that he discovered the affair on July 7 last year after receiving a call from his uncle on his wife’s phone. “I was shocked when I discovered that my uncle was having an affair with my wife and had engaged in sexual intercourse,” he said.
Madzivanyika admitted to confronting Zhou and demanding compensation for the damage caused to his marriage. “Yes, I go to his house daily because I want him to pay for the damage he has caused in my marriage and life. It’s not easy to know that your wife has been having sexual relations with your uncle under your nose,” he said.
He added, “He destroyed my marriage, and he does not deserve any peace at all until he pays for the damage. It’s either he gives me the US$3,000 or he will incur my wrath.”
After the court granted Zhou a protection order, Madzivanyika asked the magistrate, “Should I let my uncle and my wife keep on enjoying themselves intimately?” The magistrate advised him to seek counselling and resolve his marital issues.
In a separate but similar case, a Plumtree man, Vincent Chiwawa, is demanding US$45,000 in damages from his wife’s lover, Alfos Bukhosibethu Nyathi, an employee of the Environment Management Agency (EMA).
However, on November 18, 2024, Kagande confessed to her husband about the affair with Nyathi. She detailed how she had been having unprotected sex with Nyathi both before and after her husband left for the UK. Her confession came after she was advised by her pastor to come clean.
The affair was further corroborated by the couple’s children, who revealed to their father that their mother would often leave the house at night under the guise of attending church meetings. The scandal became the talk of Plumtree, a small town where gossip spreads quickly, and even made headlines in H-Metro.
Chiwawa filed for default judgment after Nyathi failed to respond to his summons. In his application, Chiwawa claimed US$45,000 in damages for “contumelia and loss of consortium” as a result of the adultery. He argued that Nyathi’s actions had not only wrecked his marriage but also robbed him of the warmth and companionship of his wife.
“By sleeping with my wife for such a long time, Nyathi has not only wrecked my marriage but he has also taken away the joy of family that I had invested a lot into,” Chiwawa stated in his summons.
The affair also had a profound impact on the couple’s children, who saw their school grades drop and became the subject of ridicule in their neighbourhood. Chiwawa’s social standing and professional reputation were also severely affected, as the scandal became widely known.
Nyathi, by his actions, has been accused of undermining Chiwawa’s marriage and family life. “Nyathi, by his vile actions, robbed me of the warmth and companionship of my wife as she would no longer feel attracted or satisfied by my affection or enjoy conjugal activity with me like before,” the court documents read.
