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Thubelihle Mabhena Court Reporter
A MAID who had an affair with her late employer for 12 years, allegedly withdrew $1,786 from his estate after she misrepresented herself to ZB bank as the surviving spouse.
The employer’s wife discovered the fraud and reported the matter to the police.

Lucy Ncube, 54, of Sizinda suburb, on Wednesday appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Sibongile Msipa facing fraud charges.
She pleaded not guilty.

Prosecuting, Charles Danda told the court that on June 8, 2012, Leonard Dube, who is legally married to Marble Dube, 60, of Pumula, passed away.

“Ncube took the burial order with her claiming that she was the wife of the late Dube. She thereafter clandestinely registered the estate of the late Dube after she purported to be the surviving wife,” said Danda.“Then between June 25, 2012 and November 7, 2012, Ncube went to ZB bank at 8th Avenue/ Jason Moyo Street Bulawayo. She presented documents she had obtained from the late Dube’s estate and fraudulently withdrew cash amounting to $1,786.71 and converted it to her own use.”

Magistrate Msipa asked Ncube, “What do you say about the charges against you?” Ncube responded: “I’ve been the wife to the late Ncube for 12 years and we’ve been living together. I conceived two children with him.”

The magistrate then queried how that was possible because the late Dube had a wife and the couple had married under chapter 5:11 which states that a person ought to have one woman and one wife.

“We were married customarily and he had told me that he had divorced Marble,” said Ncube.

Magistrate Msipa called Marble Dube to the stand and she told the court she was married to the late Dube and proved it with a marriage certificate.

“I met Ncube at the funeral and she told me she was my husband’s wife. She said they had two children.

“I was shocked because I’ve known her since 1993 as my neighbour. I employed her as my housemaid,” said Marble.

Ncube admitted she took the $1,786.71 from the bank but argued that she did it legally as the late Dube’s wife.

“As far as the law is concerned you don’t exist as the wife. Marble is the only surviving spouse to Leonard Dube. You should’ve settled the matter before his death. I don’t blame you because you were ignorant,” said Msipa.

“The High Court application is favouring the legal wife, Marble. You’re remanded to October 28 out of custody. If you default we will send you to Grey holding cells because you’re fighting for money belonging to a dead person.”