Agencies
A Zimbabwean High Court has ordered a man to pay US$6,300 (Uganda shilllings 23.7m) in damages after allegedly impregnating his girlfriend, promising to marry her, and later abandoning the relationship in a case that has sparked widespread debate on social media.
Dr Nancy Fungai Tsuro successfully sued Francis Mupindu, accusing him of causing emotional and financial suffering after allegedly failing to fulfil promises of marriage following her pregnancy.
Court proceedings revealed that the pair had been in a relationship for four years after reportedly meeting online. According to Nancy, the relationship became serious, with Mupindu allegedly encouraging her to conceive and repeatedly expressing intentions to marry her. Nancy told the court that she believed she had found a life partner and eventually became pregnant after trusting his promises.
She further testified that in October 2021, Mupindu visited her relatives carrying groceries — a gesture traditionally viewed as a sign of serious marital intentions — and allegedly declared that he intended to marry her in December that year. However, the promised marriage never materialised. Court documents further revealed that during the relationship, Mupindu allegedly fathered two children with other women without Nancy's knowledge. It also emerged that he already had three children from previous relationships before dating the doctor. 
Dr Nancy Fungai Tsur
Nancy told the court that after discovering the affairs, Mupindu allegedly abandoned her, leaving her to face pregnancy, medical expenses, emotional distress, and financial challenges alone.
She also claimed that she turned down a job opportunity in Namibia because she believed the relationship would lead to marriage.
In his defence, Mupindu described the relationship as unstable and characterised by repeated break-ups and reconciliations. While he admitted discussing marriage, he argued that he never genuinely intended to marry Nancy. The court ultimately ruled in Nancy's favour and awarded her US$1,300 for pregnancy-related medical expenses and an additional US$5,000 for financial hardship and emotional distress, bringing the total compensation to US$6,300.
The case has since triggered heated debate online, with some people praising the ruling as a victory for accountability, while others questioned whether failed relationships should attract financial compensation through courts.
Torch Media Africa
