In a recent case in Makoni, a woman named Mary Chakwesha, who lives in Chigudu Village, went to Chief Makoni’s community court to stop her ex-husband Timothy Chiwero from collecting the full bride price for their daughter.
Mary argued that Timothy had not contributed to their daughter’s upbringing and had never paid anything for Mary’s bride price, which means he shouldn’t benefit from their daughter’s marriage.
Earlier this year, Timothy had taken his son-in-law, Nicholas Nyambodza, to court, seeking the outstanding bride price (referred to as roora) for their daughter.
When Mary learned that Timothy was about to receive money from this, she decided to challenge it in court.
She explained that her brothers had urged her to take action, insisting that Timothy should not be allowed to receive any bride price for their daughter since he had no responsibility in raising her and had not fulfilled his own obligations toward her mother.
During the court proceedings, Timothy claimed that he did play a significant role in raising their daughter. He stated that after he and Mary separated in 2004, he continued to support their child.
Timothy mentioned that when Nyambodza was ordered by the court to pay part of the bride price, he had given Mary’s family a goat as a gesture of goodwill.
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However, he also admitted that he had to sell another animal to cover his court fees while pursuing the remaining bride price from Nyambodza.
Timothy’s case took a turn when a man representing him in court, whose name was not disclosed, revealed that Timothy had only paid a small introductory fee of $40, rather than the complete bride price. This information did not help Timothy’s case, as it supported Mary’s argument that he had not met his responsibilities.
After reviewing the case, the court ruled against Timothy. They decided that he must provide Mary’s family with two animals and two goats as compensation for having a child with her.
The ruling emphasized that Timothy could not enjoy the financial benefits of his daughter’s marriage while failing to fulfill his own bride price obligations to Mary. The court made it clear that Mary’s family could not directly ask Nyambodza for any of the bride price because he is not their direct son-in-law.
This case highlights the complexities involved in traditional marriage agreements and the responsibilities that come with them, particularly in the context of raising children and fulfilling bride price obligations. The community court’s decision reflects the importance of accountability and the recognition of those who have played a role in the upbringing of children.
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