A 57-year-old inmate Biggie Dube tied the knot with his high school sweetheart, Blessing Tafirenyika, 56, in a vibrant ceremony held behind bars at Khami Maximum Prison.
Their union is a testament to resilience and the human capacity for change, yet Dube’s past casts a long shadow.
Once a pastor at the Church of Christ in Bikita, Masvingo Province, Dube made waves with his admissions of a tumultuous lifestyle marked by betrayal and moral failings.
In a candid interview with B-Metro newspaper in 2021, he revealed the dark side of his former life, confessing to a series of extramarital relationships with female parishioners seeking his counsel.
“My time as a pastor was plagued with personal conflicts,” Dube recounted.
“Though I was married, my dissatisfaction led me down a reckless path, seeking solace in multiple relationships.”
He acknowledged exploiting the vulnerability of women who came to him for support, admitting he had been involved with nearly half of the congregation over a brief six-month period.
This illicit behavior spiraled out of control when one of his partners revealed her pregnancy. Instead of being accountable, Dube denied responsibility, igniting a chain reaction that culminated in charges of s3xual @ss@ult from several women. “Once the news spread, it wasn’t long before I faced the consequences of my actions,” he reflected somberly.
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His arrest sent shockwaves through the church community.
Initially grappling with multiple rap3 allegations, the legal process eventually focused on a singular case where the prosecution successfully argued that Dube had @ss@ulted a woman who was in desperate need of his assistance.
The magistrate ultimately sentenced him to 31 years in prison, deeming him a danger to society.
However, Dube’s time in confinement has prompted a profound transformation.
In a recent interview, he expressed a desire for redemption and acknowledged his past mistakes, which have now fostered a commitment to Tafirenyika. “I’ve lost my way, and I’ve caused pain to many. But through my marriage now, I’m pledging to change,” Dube shared.
Tafirenyika, who has known Dube since their meeting at Dadaya Mission in 1987, explained her motivation for rekindling their relationship. “Even after our separation, I always believed in him,” she emphasized.
“His incarceration doesn’t mark the end for us. Love endures, and I wanted to show other women they can support their partners, even in difficult times.”
Reflecting on their past, Tafirenyika noted, “I realized my absence during his trials negatively impacted him. I want to demonstrate that we can overcome this together.”
As Dube navigates his prison sentence, he has taken proactive steps to improve his health and support other inmates. After discovering he was HIV positive, he founded the Khami Opportunistic Infections Organisation (KOICO), which advocates for health education and testing among inmates.
