Mugabe critic Bishop Ncube accused of Adultery while Mugabe offers to pray for him

Various news sources claim that Zimbabwe Catholic Archbishop Pius Alick Mvundla Ncube, one of Mugabe's fierce critics, is being sued for alleged adultery by the husband of a woman who worked as a secretary in the archbishop's office at St Pius Catholic Church in Bulawayo. Onesimus Sibanda, the plaintiff, accuses the Archbishop of having an adulterous affair with his wife, Rosemary, and has demanded compensation for “emotional pain”. His lawyer Nzarayapenga said his client uncovered evidence that suggested Ncube was having an adulterous relationship with his wife - a secretary. Lawyers for Archbishop Ncube called the allegations an orchestrated attempt to discredit him. The archbishop, who denies the allegations, has openly denounced President Mugabe as a "megalomaniac," and called for the British to invade Zimbabwe to topple Mugabe.
.................While Ncube denied having a relationship with Sibanda's wife, if proved, the allegations may lend him in jail and even threaten to ruin the reputation of one of Zimbabwe’s most prominent public figures and leading critic of President Mugabe. Ncube’s colleagues believe that he is being targeted in a smear campaign by President Mugabe over his criticism of his government. Meanwhile, President Mugabe said, "it can’t be me to say let’s pray for Pius. I suppose when I go to church I will pray for God to save and pardon Pius. I was born in church. I am a Catholic myself but I failed to achieve what Pius did (being Archbishop), because God chose something else for me." In reference to earlier remarks in which Ncube asked people to pray for Mugabe's death, Mugabe said, "those who pray for us must pray in good faith. Don’t pray for our deaths."
…………Zimbabwe is indeed a land of drama, laughs, and stories. Though I find this story not unusual in Zimbabwe, what is more interesting is the story the names in this story tell. Bishop Ncube's middle name is Mvundla, which is SiNdebele for a Hare. The plaintiff is Sibanda, SiNdebele for Lion, while lawyer on the plaintiff's side is Munyaradzi Nzarayapenga. In Shona, Munyaradzi means the comforter and Nzarayapenga literally means" hunger has gone wild.
…………In Zimbabwean folklore, the hare always outruns or out thinks all other animals in the Kingdom. The lion is known to be very fierce and King of the jungle. Now, Nzarayapenga is hunger at its most cruel stage. Naturally, I wonder whether the Bishop—the hare-- will outrun the lawyer in a victorious stampede of justice and injustice. As for the Lion victim, I wonder whether he will devour both the character and finances of the hare (Ncube). As for the lawyer (Munyaradzi Nzarayapenga) I wonder whether the hunger in Zimbabwe is the motivation for his taking the case or it is really to be the comforter of the Lion in tears. Well, we are yet to see....
.................Though it would be premature to condemn or absolve the Archbishop of his so called sins given that we do not know much about the reality on the ground, there is reason to believe that something is being cooked up there. It may be on the same fire and pot that people who criticize the government like former national leader Joshua Nkomo, Edgar Tekere and Morgan Tswangirai have gone through. Though there is some doubt about the chastity of many Catholic clergy in the world, the whole story has the markings of such a fire and pot. But, be that as it may, there is no need to speculate since the matter is going to court.
…………… For a minute, it sounded like Jerry Springer. That said I am sympathetic to all women victims who suffer the credibility test when coming forward to seek justice for crimes of violence against them. Victims should not have to be paraded on screen and asked to testify to satisfy the public's lust for drama and juicy stories. And I am sure from now on, the woman in question will be known as the woman who did the do with the Bishop. Knowing how cheeky Zimbabweans are, I will not be surprised to hear people calling her MaBishop or MaNcube or something of that nature to dramatize the relationship. The story is a sad commentary on how the so called press freedom does not take victims into consideration. I do not know what to make of the fact that the alleged victim in this story is the husband of the woman who is claiming billions for emotional pain and suffering. Whether this happened or not, the story is a sad commentary on how our society will easily penalize people for coming forward to report crimes committed by people we hold in high esteem. I am not saying the Bishop did it, but if he indeed did do the do, well…. But either way, this story will totally rubbish his and her reputation in church and all places. Is that the goal here?