A note reportedly left by Lyliosa Chirara before her death has brought fresh attention to alleged marital problems involving Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Commissioner Dr Martin Muduva, with Chirara claiming she had endured years of emotional distress before her death.
The handwritten note, reported by The Herald on September 14, contains a series of allegations about the couple’s marriage, including claims of prolonged estrangement, financial exclusion and infidelity.
The allegations represent Chirara’s account and have not been independently verified. Some of the people named in the note have not publicly responded to the claims.
“I have done this because of being tormented and the suffering I have endured for a long time and the distress I have suffered,” Chirara wrote.
“Admittedly, many think that I have peace of mind but that’s not true and I have only been suffering all my life.”
Chirara alleged that her relationship with Muduva had deteriorated significantly from 2022 and claimed they had become estranged despite continuing to be regarded publicly as a married couple.
She further alleged that Muduva became increasingly distant after obtaining his PhD and that she was excluded from information concerning his income.
“The money he has been making, all these years, he said it was his money and, as his wife, I don’t have to know how much money he earns at his workplace,” part of the note reads.
Chirara also wrote that she had attempted to establish an income-generating poultry project involving 500 chickens, but claimed she was prevented from keeping them at the family home and subsequently sold them.
Among the most serious claims contained in the note are allegations that Muduva had established another relationship and later told Chirara that he had found a partner whom he considered more compatible with his social and professional standing.
“He has spent a whole year staying with his girlfriend and he came back to tell me that he finally found a proper wife who fits his status,” she alleged.
Chirara named another woman in connection with the allegations and claimed she only became aware of an alleged customary marriage ceremony after seeing a social media post.
There is no indication in the material provided that the woman named in the note has publicly responded to Chirara’s allegations. The claims should therefore not be treated as established fact.
Much of the letter is directed at Chirara’s relatives, children and members of the Muduva family, with the deceased apologising for her actions and describing the emotional difficulties she said she had experienced.
She also asked relatives to look after her children.
“My kids, they don’t know anything, yes, I wanted to see them grow,” she wrote, before apologising to them and other family members.
Chirara also claimed she had previously attempted to discuss her marital difficulties with members of the extended family but felt her concerns had not been adequately addressed.
The emergence of the note comes as the deaths of Chirara and Muduva have left their families and associates grieving.
Authorities are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths, while allegations contained in the note remain claims made by Chirara and should be considered separately from any official findings.
The tragedy has also renewed attention on the importance of seeking support when experiencing severe emotional distress or relationship difficulties.
Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or an immediate mental health crisis should seek urgent assistance from emergency medical services, a healthcare professional or a trusted person who can help them access support.
