Zimbabwean man snatches Nigerian's wife

court

A Bulawayo businessman who is involved in a bitter wrangle with a Nigerian businessman over his extra marital affair with the latter’s wife yesterday stunned court officials and witnesses after he ran away from the court minutes before his trial.

Charles Masunda (40) of 11 Bowood Flats, 3rd Avenue and Robert Mugabe Way, was supposed to be tried for allegedly threatening to kill the Nigerian, Mr Ambrose Nzewi, after he discovered his three-year-old illicit affair with his wife, Mrs Loveness Nzewi.

Masunda and Mrs Nzewi allegedly had an affair from 2006 up to last year when her husband discovered the adultery. Masunda is also alleged to have tried to break into Mr Nzewi’s business premises along 3rd Avenue to steal.

Yesterday the court officials and witnesses saw Masunda in the court corridors and in the gallery when his trial was about to start. However, a few minutes before his trial was supposed to start Masunda disappeared.

His name was called in court but he was nowhere to be seen. A court orderly was assigned to call his name three times, but Masunda was found to be in default, leaving the State, represented by Mr Jerry Mutsindikwa and witnesses who had come to testify, stunned.

Mr Mutsindikwa had to apply to the court for a warrant of Masunda’s arrest, which was granted by Bulawayo magistrate Ms Ntombizodwa Mazhandu.
Allegations against Masunda are that on 27 August last year at about 4pm, he approached Mr Nzewi at his business premises and threatened him with death. He is alleged to have said to Mr Nzewi that his days were numbered and he was going to shoot him to death.

Masunda is also alleged to have told Mr Nzewi that he was going to make him disappear since he was well-connected. Mr Nzewi reported the matter to the police. The court heard that a month later, Masunda went to the complainant’s shop during his absence.

He allegedly parked his vehicle at a bus stop opposite the shop. Masunda is alleged to have armed himself with a bunch of keys and tried to open the shop.However, a guard, Milo

 Moyo, asked him about his motive. He told him that he had been sent by Mr Nzewi to collect something. Moyo then phoned the complainant to verify the claims, but Masunda allegedly fled from the scene. Two days later, Moyo caused his arrest after he saw him at Tredgold Building.

As for the alleged affair, Mr Nzewi in February last year instructed his lawyers, James, Moyo-Majwabu and Nyoni Legal Practitioners to write to Masunda expressing his displeasure.

“Our client married Loveness Nzewi in 2002 and there are three children as a result of the union. In 2006, our client discovered that you were committing theft of property from his company. This matter was reported to the police and you were arrested and detained. Our client withdrew the charges against you to save his marriage,” read the letter dated 10 February.

The Nigerian also said that he discovered a birthday card sent by Masunda to his wife, which had romantic messages.

“Our client has found that his wife is absent from home without reasonable explanation, leaving the children without maternal supervision and love, much to their prejudice.

“It was our client’s hope and belief that after he withdrew charges against you and caused us to write a letter to his wife, normal marital relations would resume between his wife and himself, without interference,” said the lawyers.

The lawyers also highlighted that Mr Nzewi was aware that Masunda was still continuing with his adulterous affair with his wife.

“In January 2009, our client discovered notwithstanding his magnamity towards you, you had continued your adulterous relationship with his wife and had even gone to the extent of operating a nightclub, Masc Nightclub at Pausiku Business Centre in Insiza, jointly with our client’s wife. Written proof is available.

“We have been instructed to issue summons and claim damages against you for adultery and summons pertaining to that course of action will be served upon you shortly. You are also advised to desist from, in any way, contacting our client’s wife,” wrote the lawyers.