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Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A cheating woman married to a South Africa-based man was impregnated by a neighbour because she was sexually starved by her husband who was always away, a magistrate heard yesteday. Christine Moyo, 33, of Emzaza Village had a still birth without the knowledge of her husband and secretly buried the body at a village cemetery.

She said she was forced to commit adultery by her husband’s absence in the neighbouring country.

Moyo’s secret was blown open when her mother-in-law, Julia Sibanda, discovered that the pregnancy was gone and reported the matter.

She was convicted by Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa, for concealing the birth of a child.

Ruvetsa sentenced Moyo to three months in prison which were suspended on condition that she performs 105 hours of community service at Empandeni  Clinic.

In passing sentence Ruvetsa advised Moyo to return to her homestead and lead the life of a faithful wife.

“Do not engage in the business of having boyfriends when you are a married woman. Look at what your unfaithfulness has done. It caused you to commit an offence. Go and live like a faithful wife and stop cheating on your husband,” he said.

Moyo who begged for the court’s leniency said she was forced to commit the offence as she did not want her husband to learn of her pregnancy.

She said she was afraid that her husband would divorce her once he learnt that she was sleeping with another man.

“It was my first time to cheat on my husband and I made a terrible mistake. I got carried away when  my neighbour proposed love to me. I was tempted to have an affair with him as my husband is always away so I was desperate for male companionship,” said Moyo.

She said she gave birth to a still born baby in secret and disposed of the body at Emzaza burial place.

Prosecuting, Jane Phiri said on July 3 Moyo registered her pregnancy at Empandeni Clinic and she was told that her expected date of delivery was April 9.

She said Moyo’s husband Rufaro Tshuma   arrived home from the neighbouring country in December last year but was unaware that his wife   was pregnant.

The court heard that Moyo’s mother-in-law questioned her about the pregnancy in the presence of her husband but Moyo denied being pregnant.

“On 4 April at around 11PM Moyo gave birth to a still born baby and did not inform anyone. Instead she buried the body on the following morning around 4AM at Emzaza burial place,” said Phiri.

She said Sibanda noticed that Moyo was no longer pregnant and questioned her on the whereabouts of her baby until she revealed her secret.