Zvishavane woman arrested for marrying two men at the same time – In a case that captured national attention, Moreblesing Maridza, a 44-year-old woman from Platinum Park in Zvishavane, Zimbabwe, was arrested and brought before the court for marrying another man while still legally wed to her first husband.
Local news reported that Maridza’s predicament began when she accused her first husband of failing to fulfill his marital duties.
Maridza, who married her second husband after a 12-year intimate drought with her first husband, pleaded guilty to charges of bigamy.
During her court appearance, she explained that her first husband, Mr. James Chivandire, had become mentally incapacitated and was no longer able to perform his duties as a husband.
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This, she claimed, led her to seek companionship elsewhere.
The saga began in 2000 when Chivandire suffered a severe fall, which resulted in a debilitating mental !llness.
For years, Maridza cared for him, by 2012, her patience had worn thin.
Feeling abandoned and unfulfilled, she entered into a marriage with David Mhuru, hoping to find the love and support she desperately needed.
The couple lived together as husband and wife, building a new life in the shadow of Maridza’s first marriage.
Maridza’s dual marriages might have gone unnoticed if not for a routine check at the Registrar-General’s office.
An alert officer noticed that Maridza had two valid marriage certificates, triggering an investigation that ultimately led to her arrest.
The discovery of her bigamous status sent shockwaves through the small community of Zvishavane.
Appearing before the court, Maridza faced the serious charge of bigamy.
The judge, taking into account her guilty plea and the circumstances she presented, sentenced her to six months in prison.
However, three months of the sentence were suspended on the condition that she pays a fine of $5,000.
The remaining three months were suspended for five years, contingent on her not committing a similar offense during that period.
Maridza’s case has sparked widespread debate about the legal and ethical complexities of marriage, mental illness, and the lengths individuals might go to seek personal fulfillment.
Some community members sympathise with her plight, understanding the emotional and psychological toll of caring for a mentally ill spouse.
Others, however, believe she should have pursued legal avenues to dissolve her first marriage before entering into a new one.
