POPULAR radio and television personality, Tinopona Mapereke-Katsande’s year-old marriage is on the verge of collapse, after the actress yesterday served her husband Virimai Chigariro with a peace order protection under case number DV909/16 at Helensvale Police Station in Borrowdale, Harare.
BY WINSTONE ANTONIO
Sources privy to the developments yesterday told NewsDay Weekender that Tin Tin, as Katsande is popularly known, has been suffering silently in an abusive relationship with her husband, where she was physically abused even during her pregnancy.
It is understood she never cried out for help, as she feared public scrutiny and did not want to bring embarrassment to her family.
“Tin Tin and her husband are in a mess that will likely result in the collapse of their marriage. A few weeks ago, she was even forced into hiding in the rural areas to protect their seven-month-old son from the abusive husband,” the source said.
“Problems came to a head at the end of April when Virimai was confronted by Tin Tin about an inappropriate relationship he had with a minor and he became violent, wielding knives and breaking bottles, threatening to cut her throat.”
The source said Virimai lied to the police that he had fled with the child because Tin Tin had been neglecting the infant and was on drugs.
“Since April, Virimai has been on a mission to discredit Tin Tin, as he began harassing her and her relatives with abusive text messages and phone calls, saying he had no respect for his in-laws such that he was not even going to complete the yet-to-be-finished marriage proceedings customarily because his family wanted the child, but not the mother,” the source went on.
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The source said Virimai also contacted radio station, ZiFM bosses to stop her impending return to the station.
Tin Tin referred all questions to her lawyer, Fiona Chandayengerwa, whose mobile phone was not reachable by the time of going to print.
Speaking through his sister, Ndaka Chigariro, Virimai claimed the two were never married, but had a relationship.
“Virimai is not married. He is not a married man. According to your newspapers, yes, they were married, but that is not the case,” she said.
“Yes, I know they have a son, but my family never paid lobola to anyone and we do not know the Katsandes.”
