Barika Turns Sour As Fourth Wife Stabs Husband For Bedding Her Sister And Married Friend

By Staff Reporter

The sweet taste of barika has turned violently bitter for a Domboshava businessman after his fourth wife allegedly stabbed him in the leg, unleashing years of fury over his secret affairs with her own cousin—who in Zimbabwean traditional culture is regarded as a sister—and a married friend.

Judith Maruta (33), a local businesswoman, found herself behind bars for two weeks following the confrontation with her polygamous husband, Kefas Mushore (50), as a marriage built on multiple wives unravelled in spectacular fashion.

The couple is now locked in a bitter legal battle over maintenance payments and a staggering US$50,000 (approx. R925,000) compensation demand from the husband.

The Betrayal That Broke The Fourth Wife
According to H-Metro, Judith Maruta says her patience finally snapped when she discovered that her husband’s wandering eye had landed on two women she trusted most: her cousin, Tabeth Banda—who in Zimbabwean tradition is regarded as a sister—and her married friend, Primrose Mutare. For Judith, who was already navigating life as the fourth wife, this was the ultimate betrayal.

In Zimbabwean culture, cousins are not merely relatives but are considered siblings, making the relationship between Kefas and Tabeth a profound violation of kinship bonds. The distinction carries significant cultural weight, where the term “sister” extends beyond blood siblings to include female cousins who are raised and regarded as immediate family.

“I failed to stomach a situation where my husband was bedding my married friend and sister,” Judith said, using the cultural framing that places her cousin in the category of sister.

The situation escalated into a physical confrontation. According to Judith, Kefas overpowered her during their quarrel, leaving her with no choice but to defend herself.

“I failed to stomach a situation where my husband was bedding my married friend and sister.”

She grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed him on the leg. The act of rage landed her in remand prison for approximately two weeks, where she was held with her two young children, aged four and one year and three months.

When she finally appeared in court, Judith was fined US$500 (approx. R9,250) and ordered to pay an additional US$563 (approx. R10,415) in restitution for damages caused to Kefas’ vehicle. But the punishment did not end there.

Upon her release, Judith claims her husband served her with a protection order. More shockingly, she says Kefas is now demanding US$50,000 (approx. R925,000) in compensation for the leg injury, claiming he is now unable to walk as a result of the stabbing.

Sister Confirms Affair And Defends Her Actions
Tabeth Banda, the sister at the centre of the storm, has come forward to confirm the affair with Kefas Mushore. Speaking openly, she admitted that financial assistance from the polygamous husband made the relationship difficult to resist, especially since her own husband is working in South Africa.

Tabeth revealed that Kefas had been secretly giving her money, and she chose not to disclose his intentions to her sister Judith out of fear it would create further problems.

“Mushore had been assisting me with money behind my sister’s back and I could not reject everything he was assisting me with,” Tabeth said.

“I could not disclose his love intentions to my sister because it could have caused more problems.
“After she came to know about it, my sister confronted me angrily and I confirmed dating her husband.”

She suggested that Judith’s outrage might be selective, pointing out that polygamy was already the established arrangement.

“Mushore had been assisting me so as to win my favour in case his shenanigans with other women was to be known. After all Judith was his fourth wife and another woman was divorced because of her, saka ngaasiyane neni (so he should leave me alone).”

A Marriage That Cost Everything
As Judith prepares to face her husband in court today before Domboshava magistrate Alfred Chinembiri, she is reflecting on the heavy price she says she has paid for entering a polygamous union. The couple is scheduled for a hearing on an upward variation of maintenance, with Judith seeking US$35 (approx. R650) per child for their two children.

Beyond the legal battles, Judith says the marriage has stripped her of her financial independence.

“I regret the polygamous marriage, it has left me without some of my properties, including two houses and a car,” she said.

She described her current life as “miserable” and placed the blame squarely on Kefas for the cascade of events that have left her fighting for survival.