The Sunday Mail
I WAS barely halfway into my first quart of cold beer on an unbearably hot Sunday afternoon when I heard a loud, piercing scream from the bar lady.
When I curiously rushed to investigate, I saw a skinny blonde haphazardly pumping fists into the bar lady’s huge frame as if she was connected to a generator.
All the while, four ladies were preventing patrons from stopping the attacker.
“Let her be beaten, she deserves it. She is making our friend suffer while squandering money with her husband.
“We want her to teach the world that dating married men is suicidal,” shouted one of the bellicose ladies egging her friend on.
“Munhu ngaapombwe. Achachitaura chakatadzisa imbwa kuseka kunyenama ichigona,” the ladies shouted in unison as though they had rehearsed the statement prior to the attack.
After the thorough hiding, the ladies tore their victim’s clothes and went away feeling victorious.
The bar lady was left bleeding and nursing a swollen face.
Hell hath no fury like a cheated woman.
The extent to which women go when angered is unimaginable.
There are countless women out there who have been embarrassed at their workplaces and in front of respectable people like in-laws and church mates over accusations of dating married men.
There are actually some women who are making a living by spying on behalf of married women and offering “consultancy services” on how to deal with the cheats.
Also, there are women in the ghetto who are prepared to abandon household chores and other activities just to help one of their own to mete instant justice on the husband snatcher.
Called “vazvamburi”, “vakwaturi”, “gen’a”, “problem solvers” and “chiranga pfambi”, these women offer their services for a fee.
Lately, some young men and other like-minded bouncers are occasionally roped into these gangs that have become notoriously popular in high-density suburbs.
Unlucky women who have been paid visits by the shaming-and-embarrassing crews have lots of tales to tell.
Mostly affected are people in public offices, supermarkets, beauty salons and flea markets.
“If someone hires us, we will never disappoint. From as little as US$20, we can teach someone a lesson and they will never date a married man again.
“This is largely a woman-to-woman deal, but, in most cases, we will be having male bouncers and drivers,” a woman running one such enterprise in Glen Norah told this writer.
“In these days of HIV and Aids, we view our operations as highly beneficial to society. We are not afraid of the police because those who hire us will pay the necessary fines. In most cases, once someone is shamed they find no reason of going to the police,” she continued.
But why go to such lengths in the name of love?
“Love is not an easy thing. You would have invested a lot of time and resources, only for someone to come and disturb your happiness. Nothing is as difficult as being betrayed, so I will do everything within my might to win back my man,” said one Jennifer of Mabvuku.
She is not the only person who shares such views.
“I ended up hiring a gang to embarrass someone because she would not just leave my husband alone.
“I suspect the woman was using muti on him. I grew up in a humble family and I do not think I want to go back to that life again.
“I will do all I can to keep my marriage and raise my kids with my husband. For as long as someone comes to interfere, I have no choice, but to go the shaming route,” she said.
One lady told this writer that when cheated on, she does not complain at all to the husband, but she prefers to deal with his lover.
“I will never confront my husband over the issue. I will just pay the lover a visit and ensure she is beaten and embarrassed. Iye ndiye anozomukurukurira kuti ndabatwabatwa,” she said.
While women were known to visit sangomas and prophets to save their marriages, there seems to be a new normal in dealing with husband snatchers.
These are signs of the times.
Inotambika mughetto.
