Stanford Chiwanga

Senior Reporter

A WOMAN teamed up with her maid and beat up her husband’s lover for nearly 30 minutes in full view of passersby who could not help but stop and stare at what was ensuing in Bulawayo’s high-density suburb of Tshabalala last Wednesday.

Mrs Rosemary Sibanda (24), a resident of Tsh

abalala, had just disembarked from a commuter omnibus with her maid, Miss Alice Phiri at around 7pm, when she saw her husband, Mr Austin Sibanda (28), with his alleged girlfriend, Sibonginkosi Ncube.

On realising that his infidelity, which his wife had always suspected, had been discovered, a stunned Mr Sibanda, took to his heels and left his girlfriend at the mercy of his wife and maid who quickly pounced on her before she had the chance to get away.

Mrs Sibanda is said to have repeatedly slapped, punched and kicked Miss Ncube while Miss Phiri held her hands to prevent her from running for dear life or retaliating. Not to be outdone, Miss Phiri is alleged to have picked up a stick and lashed Miss Ncube’s buttocks, back and thighs with it.

Miss Ncube, who was professing innocence and begging for mercy throughout the ordeal, fell to the ground when Miss Phiri allegedly beat her on the back of the head with the stick. Miss Phiri then held her down to prevent her from standing up, allowing Mrs Sibanda to sit on her and hit her more.

Miss Ncube was saved from further punishment when passengers, who were in a commuter omnibus which was passing by, urged the driver to stop so that they could rescue her. A tout and two other men are said to have disembarked, took Miss Ncube from the enraged women and drove away with her.

In an interview, a livid Mrs Sibanda revealed that Miss Ncube was her husband’s ex-girlfriend and had always suspected that they were having an affair.

“Sibonginkosi used to date my husband before I met him. I know that because I used to see them together. She also went to the secondary school that I went to. So there is no way they can deny that they are having an affair.

“What business does my husband have with his ex-girlfriend? I don’t talk to my ex-boyfriends because I know it’s not appropriate and I expected the same from him. If there was nothing going on why did my husband run away when he saw me? I am not a fool; it’s obvious that he is sleeping with her,’’ said Mrs Sibanda.

Mrs Sibanda, who did not permit her maid to comment, said she was not going to forgive her husband until he confessed.

“I want him to put it in writing that he is never going to do it again and he must do that before the elders. Then we must go for HIV tests, if he refuses I am not going to sleep with him again,’’ she said.

Mr Sibanda and Miss Ncube refused to comment.