Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Munyaradzi Huni
17 July 2007
Bulawayo — OUTSPOKEN Roman Catholic cleric Archbishop Pius Ncube of the Bulawayo Diocese is at the centre of a stinging adulterous allegation that has plunged him into a $20 billion lawsuit, following claims that he had an affair with a married woman over the past two years.
Under Roman Catholic Church practice, all those joining the priesthood or nunhood -- including archbishops, brothers and sisters -- take strict vows of celibacy, meaning they should maintain an unmarried status, and, thus, abstain from sexual relations.
A visibly shaken Archbishop Ncube, who has been at the forefront demonising President Mugabe and the Government, was served with the declaration and summons yesterday morning by the Deputy Sheriff of Bulawayo.
At the High Court, the case is recorded under HC1585/07.
The papers show that Archbishop Ncube had an adulterous affair with Mrs Rosemary Sibanda, who has been legally married to Mr Onesimus Sibanda since 2005.
When contacted for comment, Mrs Sibanda first denied any knowledge of the affair but when she was shown pictures of her taken in the Archbishop's bedroom while naked, she admitted having an adulterous affair with Archbishop Ncube for the past two years.
In one of the many pictures, a naked Archbishop Ncube is seen cuddling an equally naked Mrs Sibanda in his bedroom.
The Archbishop was also pictured in the act with several other women in the supposedly holy bedroom.
The usually arrogant Archbishop Ncube went ashen, was at a loss of words and could hardly contain the shock when he was shown the same pictures that were secretly taken by a private investigator hired by the woman's husband.
In his declaration served through his lawyers Dube-Banda, Nzarayapenga and Partners, the plaintiff, Mr Sibanda, a radio communications technician with the National Railways of Zimbabwe, alleged that on different occasions since January 2006, Archbishop Ncube was involved in an adulterous sexual relationship with his wife.
Reads part of the declaration: "On diverse occasions between the period beginning 2006 and in places particularly in the environs of Bulawayo and St Mary's Cathedral, defendant illicitly associated and engaged with plaintiff's wife, one Rosemary Sibanda, in an adulterous sexual relationship well knowing of the marital status of the plaintiff's wife.
"As a direct result of the defendant's illicit and adulterous association with the plaintiff's wife, the plaintiff has lost the love, comfort and society that he previously enjoyed with his wife. Plaintiff has been seriously humiliated, his dignity has been impaired, his religious inclinations and faith shaken and he has suffered loss of consortium as he has had serious problems with his wife since January 2006.
"Owing to the illicit and adulterous association, the plaintiff suffered damages as follows: $10 000 000 000 being adultery damages as the defendant has abused his trust and position and engaged in an adulterous relationship with plaintiff's wife despite full knowledge that she was married. The marriage was solemnised in the Roman Catholic Church; $5 000 000 000 being loss of consortium; and $5 000 000 000 being loss of contumelia.
"Wherefore plaintiff prays for an order for payment of the sum of $20 000 000 000, being damages for adultery, contumelia and loss of consortium suffered by plaintiff as a result of the defendant's illicit and adulterous affair with plaintiff's wife," reads the declaration.
The summons at the High Court read: "Plaintiff claims as against defendant are for:
"(a) An order for payment in the sum of $20 000 000 000 (twenty billion dollars), being damages for adultery, contumelia and loss of consortium in respect of defendant's unlawful, malicious and illicit association with plaintiff's wife well knowing of plaintiff's wife's marital status, the result of which was the alienation of love, loss of comfort and society in the marriage between plaintiff and his wife.
(b) An order for payment of interest at the prescribed rate on the sum of $20 000 000 000 mentioned in (a) . . . from date of service summons to date of full and final payment.
(c) An order for payment of costs of suit at an attorney and client scale."
Archbishop Ncube was asked to enter an appearance to defend within 10 days at the High Court in Bulawayo.
If the Archbishop fails to do so within the stipulated time, the claims by the plaintiff will be heard and dealt with by the High Court without further notice to the Archbishop.
Following the interest that was shown by the media in the matter, the lawyer representing the plaintiff, Mr Munyaradzi Nzarayapenga of Dube-Banda, Nzarayapenga and Partners, addressed a Press conference at his offices where he confirmed that his client had asked him to serve Archbishop Ncube with the summons.
"For a long time my client has been suspecting that his wife, a senior church committee representative at St Pius Parish, has been involved in an adulterous relationship with the Archbishop of the Diocese, Pius Ncube.
"At one point he wrote to Archbishop Pius Ncube to register his displeasure. The Archbishop wrote back denying any adultery with my client's lawful wife.
"My client has uncovered evidence that suggests that the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Bulawayo Diocese, Archbishop Pius Ncube, is having an adulterous relationship with his wife, Rosemary Sibanda, a secretary of the St Anne's Association of St Pius Church in Njube, Bulawayo.
"My client has instructed and we have issued summons against the Archbishop for causing my client untold suffering, pain, loss of companionship, etc.
"I can confirm that the Deputy Sheriff of Bulawayo has already served the summons and declaration to the Archbishop," said the lawyer.
Mr Sibanda looked pensive as he sat next to his lawyer at the Press conference.
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