by Rachel Ogbu

In 2010, the news that 26-year-old Phil Bailey fell in love with his grandmother Pearl Carter from Indiana, and they decided to have a child together shocked the world. At about that same time another man in Zimbabwe, Judah Magarasadza married his mother-in-law after his wife died to the disgust of their relatives.

Magarasadza ‘s wife Rozie Gopoza died in 2008 and two months later his mother-in-law Felistus Gopoza moved in with him.  Despite relatives fighting against the union, they tied the knot in 2010.

From 2010 to December last year, the two were living as husband and wife. However, after Magarasadza died, things took a horrible turn for the mother-in-law cum-wife. Sources said the woman was barred from the funeral by her husband’s relatives who told her that they did not recognise her relationship with their son.

“She was thrown out. Anyway who would blame them? They were very right in doing so. What kind of a relationship is that,” said a source.

It is said the woman was also barred from attending the burial at the man’s rural home. The brother of the late, Joseph Magarasadza confirmed that his late brother was involved in a love relationship with his mother-in-law which he described as ‘illegal’.

“No such thing can be allowed to happen in our society. Both parents refused to take part in lobola negotiations after my brother and the woman said they wanted to get married,” he said.

Joseph said contrary to reports that the woman was banned from the funeral, she had actually made the decision herself.

“We had a meeting with her and her brother and that is when she said she would not be at the funeral because people were saying thing about her. No one stopped her from attending the funeral,” he said.

Joseph is now selling his late brother’s belongings. A note at the gate of House No. 15869 Nkulumane listed a number of things which were being sold.

“I have to clear the debts before I go back to my home in Harare so that is why I am selling his belongings,” he said.

In an attempt to get a comment from the once a ‘mother-in-law’, a woman who answered the phone said the issue was not for public consumption. metro