Man loses wife as in-laws demand money they spent on her education

A Mberengwa man lost his wife after the in-laws demanded her back following an impasse over lobola, which included $2 000 which the parents spent on the wife's education.

Mr Soton Shumba (45) said his wife and one-year-old baby girl were taken by his in-laws from Gokwe recently after they had visited him and demanded their dues.

"When I engaged my in-laws after they claimed my wife back, they indicated to me that I should pay $2 000 which they spent on my wife's education. I have since taken the matter to the local chief, who in turn referred me back to Chief Njelele in Gokwe where my wife comes from. My chief (Chief Mataruse) has said he cannot preside over the matter since my in-laws are in Gokwe. The chief indicated to me that the matter could be best handled by Chief Njelele because that is where my in-laws and wife come from," he said.

Mr Shumba said he has been living happily with his wife, Ms Rose Shoko, only for his in-laws to visit them in Mberengwa demanding lobola before taking back their daughter.

He said he had paid part of the lobola but could not pay the $2 000 which his in-laws claim they spent on his wife's education.

"They pointed out that the money was meant to compensate the expenses they incurred on my wife when they were sending her to school since Grade One. They are insisting that I should pay the sum as part of the lobola for them to release my wife and child," he said.

He said he was now planning to visit  the courts in a bid to take back his  daughter.

"I have never come across such a scenario where people demand money spent on the education of their own daughter. I think my in-laws are out to complicate things so that they take their daughter back. I paid for the other important things that matter on my lobola list, but they are still insisting that I should pay the $2 000 compensation," he said.

Mr Shumba's mother in-law, Mrs Idah Shoko, confirmed that they were keeping their daughter over the $2 000 outstanding money.

"We charged him $2 000 that we spent on his wife's education because he impregnated her while she was doing her O-Level at Msume High School. He would take my child away from the school without our knowledge. That is why he should pay the money we wasted in paying fees thinking that our child was at school when in actual fact she was with Mr Shumba," said Mrs Shoko.

She said Mr Shumba paid only $300 as lobola for their daughter.

"It pains me a lot. Rose is my first born child. I wanted her to complete her education only for someone to spoil her future.

"He now wants to make noise when he only paid $300. I want my school fees money back if he seriously wants his wife back," fumed Ms Shoko.

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