A Mutasa local man has been accused of stealing his neighbor’s wife’s undergarments.
The missing items, which include bras, panties, and petticoats, were reportedly taken from Taremekedzwa Kuodza’s home under the cover of darkness, causing outrage among the Kuodza family.
The unfolding drama reached Chief Mutasa’s community court as reported by Manica Post, where Kuodza accused Robert Mtetwa and Phillip Dumbura of conspiring to steal his wife’s underwear.
In a plea to reclaim the items, Kuodza expressed his fears that they could be used for witchcraft against his family.
Recalling the incident that took place on November 8, Kuodza explained, “I had locked the door with my wife and child asleep inside. When I returned home a few hours later, I was surprised to find the door open and a bag in the kitchen that I had left in the bedroom. The next morning, we discovered that my wife’s undergarments were missing.”
He added that Mtetwa had returned some of the stolen items the following day, claiming he found them, but could not explain how he recognized the clothes as belonging to Kuodza’s wife.
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When Kuodza brought the matter to the traditional leadership, Mtetwa initially confessed to the theft, claiming he was acting on the orders of his friend, Phillip Dumbura, to whom he allegedly handed the stolen items.
However, during the court session, Mtetwa changed his story, denying the accusations against him.
Mtetwa, who has a previous conviction for theft, argued that his earlier confession was made under duress. He claimed that he panicked when confronted by Kuodza and his associates, feeling pressured to implicate Dumbura. “I did not do anything wrong. When Kuodza confronted me, they threatened me, and I felt I had no choice but to confess. I believed I was doing the right thing by returning some of the items I found, which I recognized by a hat that Kuodza always wears,” he insisted.
In contrast, Dumbura has denied any involvement in the theft and expressed confusion at being named in the allegations. He maintained that he and Mtetwa are not friends, simply acquaintances, and stated he was not even in the area when the incident occurred. “I do not understand how my name ended up being dragged into this. I was shocked when the police arrested me, but they later released me. Mtetwa then went to court, where he was convicted and served time,” he said.
