By Violet Mashonga
CHINHOYI — What began as a private marital struggle in a Chinhoyi household has spilled dramatically into the public eye, drawing in the town’s mayor, a fellow councillor, and the justice system.
Yet beneath the allegations, counter-allegations, and court dates lies a deeply human story — one of heartbreak, mistrust, and a family unraveling.
For Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) councillor Mirriam Nyamasoka and her husband Kind Vhizi, December 2024 marked the beginning of a painful chapter.
According to Vhizi’s account, their marriage began to crumble when he discovered what he believed were intimate messages and photographs on his wife’s phone.
The images, he alleged, were linked to Chinhoyi Mayor Owen Charuza, a claim the mayor vigorously denies.
In a bid to save what remained of his relationship, Vhizi sought counselling from councillor David Malunga, a man he trusted.
But soon, Vhizi says, the very person he turned to for help became part of the storm: he later accused Malunga of also being romantically involved with his wife — claims Malunga insists are untrue.
As tensions rose, Nyamasoka moved out of the marital home, a decision Vhizi says left him feeling abandoned and confused. When rumours reached him that she and Malunga had travelled together to Harare, he describes a breaking point — one that led him to hide in a hedge outside her new residence, desperate for clarity in a situation that seemed to be slipping out of his hands.
What he says he witnessed there — the pair arriving together, sharing a kiss, and departing separately — triggered a confrontation that would set the stage for deeper conflict.
Later that evening, Vhizi went to Malunga’s home, where he found his wife. Hoping for a mediated conversation, he followed them to what was supposed to be a counselling session. Instead, Vhizi claims, the meeting turned violent, leaving him injured and requiring hospitalisation.
Malunga and Nyamasoka dismiss the accusations, describing them as distortions made in the heat of a collapsing marriage.
The emotional fallout spilled into legal territory soon afterward. Nyamasoka reported her husband to police, leading to his arrest. While he was in custody, Vhizi alleges that she used a spare key to enter their home and take money he had recently earned from selling his car — an accusation she has not publicly addressed.
After being released on bail, Vhizi filed a theft case against her, while Nyamasoka applied for a protection order. The case will be heard on 15 December.
Mayor Charuza, meanwhile, has rejected any suggestion of impropriety, describing the allegations as an extortion attempt.
“This is pure extortion,” he said. “The husband has approached several journalists who demanded money so the story doesn’t come out, yet the allegations are aimed at me and three other councillors.”
With emotions running high and trust shattered on all sides, Chinhoyi’s tightly knit community has been left both shocked and sympathetic.
For many, the situation is a sobering reminder of how personal conflicts can engulf not only families, but entire institutions.
The case — recorded under CR 401225 — is now before the Chinhoyi Magistrates’ Court, with proceedings set to continue on 17 December 2025.
This painful saga unfolds during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a campaign urging communities to confront the roots of violence, support victims, and advocate for healthier, safer relationships.
For the families at the centre of this dispute, and for the community watching from the sidelines, it is a poignant moment — one that raises difficult questions about love, betrayal, and the emotional toll of conflict.
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