Big Brother Star Munya pays lobola for real

Adiona and Munya

After making sensational claims last year that he was never in love with his baby momma Adiona Maboreke and that they were merely introduced to President Mugabe as husband and wife, ex-Big Brother Africa star Munya Chidzonga has performed an astonishing somersault.  The two socialites, who are parents to 19-month-old son Pfumai, are not only back together but Munya actually paid lobola. The ceremony took place late January at Adiona’s grandmother’s place in Houghton Park in a scene that, according to Munya, was reminiscent of his movie Lobola “except this was real life”.

Munya, a losing finalist in Big Brother Africa’s 2010 instalment, says there will always be consequences for one’s actions in life, especially in “our culture”. “I ‘paid’ for my sins when I went for lobola negotiations at the Maborekes. I had a tough time but it made me realise who I am and where I come from.

“It was like Lobola the movie all over again, but I’m glad I had my dad, uncles and go-betweens for support otherwise it would have been a disaster,” said the Lobola and The Gentleman actor. Although he refused to give details of the lobola negotiations and its drama, Munya said the negotiations were done in good faith and the outcome was fair. “This is tradition we are talking about, our culture. I cannot go into finer details, but I really got what I deserved because I wronged my wife and her family thus there were repercussions,” he said.

While Adiona’s parents could not make it for the ceremony, her aunt (amainini) and her father’s brothers ensured that everything went smoothly during the negotiations. But still one would be forgiven for asking if this is not another Big Brother stunt from Munya and his wife. “This is definitely not a stunt but I wouldn’t blame anyone for thinking that. I really acted childishly when I washed my dirty linen in public after the two of us separated.

“I am ashamed of the things that I said and the way that I acted, but I am glad that Adiona agreed to take me back and now we are back together, a happy young family again,” said Munya. His wife, Adiona, who accompanied her bad-boy-gone-good husband, said it was unfortunate that they had to learn the hard way how to cope with a marriage.

“A marriage is always tough when you get into it while still young. There are many young couples out there who are going through the same problems that we went through and don’t know how to cope. “My advice to them is that they should talk to each other, in fact, be each other’s best friends, listen to their parents and other elders and, above all, stay away from destructive friends,” she said.

The former Idols East and Southern Africa contestant, who is also a professional musician, said it would not help anything to go into detail about the tough phase she went through with Munya, which culminated in their break-up. “All I can say is that we treated our lives as though it was entertainment, dealing with our problems in the public eye and not seeking help. That is a recipe for disaster but we made it through, which is all that is important,” she declared.

Adiona, who undergoes vocal training, says the couple is even planning on having two more kids, but not just yet. “I’m busy setting myself up with the vocal training and all while Munya has many projects he is dealing with at the moment, but one thing for sure is that this family is here to stay and we will grow it,” she said.

Munya, who has since relocated from his Second Street Extension offices to Borrowdale, says his production house is currently finalising putting The Gentleman, his latest movie, on DVD. “We still have to put the Gentleman on DVD, but at the moment there are five other projects commissioned by Mr (Philip) Chiyangwa that I’m currently working on. “This time, though, I have taken on the role of movie producer and will not be acting in these upcoming projects,” said Munya. The Sunday Mail