Son snatches dad’s small house

The child may inherit one of the parent’s facial appearances, physical built or mannerisms. In most cases, we hear such cliches "like father like son" or "like mother like daughter."

We also have musicians and sports personalities’ children who follow their parent’s footsteps. Think of sons of great musicians and those in transport business and figure out the resemblance in the way they do their things.

However, a 28-year-old Highfields man — Taurayi Madzomba — has taken over his father’s "small house", after having also "inherited" a fridge and 3-CD changer hi-fi from his father while he was still alive.

When Taurayi first saw his father’s "small-house" — Tariro Makombe — little did he know that one day they would fall in love. The two first met when Taurayi wanted to collect some groceries sent by his father from Botswana at Tariro’s house in October last year.

When the visits became frequent Tariro who is known as Mai Tinashe in her neighbourhood could not afford to hide her feelings towards her lover’s son to whom she openly proposed in early February this year.

The couple started flirting when Mai Tinashe invited her lover’s son to bed after having supper together when Taurayi had come to collect another consignment of groceries from his father in Botswana.

"It was a surprise, a moment of madness and I could not believe her words.

"I was a bit tipsy and I failed to resist her words," recalled Taurayi sipping opaque beer from under a mango tree at his "new house" in Highfield.

The Murehwa-born man said he was not aware that she was also dating his father.

Taurayi said the truth finally dawned on him in August this year after his father paid a surprise visit to his "small house" and caught his son and lover with his pants down.

"It came to light that my Mai Tinashe was going out with my father when my father suddenly arrived from Botswana in August.

"He arrived home in the morning and by then I was sleeping. Upon realising that there was a man in the house he angrily pulled off all the blankets only to realise that it was me.

"Ndakapona baba dai ndisiri mwana wavo ndingadai ndakafa. (I am lucky to be alive because if I was not his son he could have pummelled me)," recalled Taurayi.

When his father confronted him about his relationship with Tariro, he told him that he was staying with his girlfriend and since he was now a grown-up he had no reason to ask him about it. His reply did not go down well with his father who then let the cat out of the bag.

"My father told me that Tari was his ‘small house’ and that he was the father of the house responsible for paying rentals and other necessities for Tariro.

"He narrated the whole story to convince me that he was in charge. It was difficult to accept but that was the truth," he said.

But where was Mai Tinashe as father and son was involved in a verbal war over her?

"Mai Tinashe was standing outside listening to our conversation and could not say a word until my father called her in and asked her about our relationship.

"She only said, ‘tichazvisota (we will resolve this amicably). Don’t worry . . .," explained Taurayi.

Asked about how he reconciled with Mai Tinashe — Taurayi, who is now permanently staying with the woman — said his father immediately severed his relationship with the woman, paving way for their affair to blossom.

"When he said it was all over with her although he did not say it straight to her, I thanked God as it was now my chance to take over plus being the younger one it was clear that I was the rightful person she would take back," he said.

When Herald Lifestyle visited the live-in lovebirds at their Highfield house, Mai Tinashe could not be drawn into revealing how she managed to kill two birds with one stone and how she managed to handle both affairs with father and son for more than eight months.

"I don’t want to talk to you (Press) because I don’t want my name to be read in your newspaper.

"What I can say to you is that: we are in love (with Taurayi) and leave us alone.

"I am not the first person to do that. Iwe hausati wakambo danana nevasikana sisi nemunin’ina (Are you telling me that you have never double-crossed sisters)?" she fumed.

But Taurayi’s mother Monica Madzomba (48) vented anger and disappointment over her husband and son’s behaviour, which she described as "sluttish".

"I don’t know what happened to my husband and son. There are a lot of beautiful girls around here and I don’t understand what went wrong with him (Taurayi).

"If it’s juju then it worked well for her. The good thing is that God will judge her accordingly and justice will prevail," she said.

"I met her twice at Machipisa Shopping Centre and I never registered my disappointment with her.

"God will one day decide the rightful way out of dealing with this terrible situation," said Mrs Madzomba, a member of the United Methodist Church.

Her husband Andrew Madzomba has since gone back to Botswana where he is working in the construction industry.