Harare – In a candid appearance on a popular online podcast, Mrs Manjalima, better known as Mai Nga, has finally broken her silence about the collapse of her two‑decade marriage to Zimbabwe’s beloved street‑theatre legend Freddie “Kapfupi” Manjalima. The 35‑year‑old mother of four says she left the matrimonial home in February after years of what she describes as “chronic alcoholism, verbal and physical abuse, and neglect” .
Mai Nga told listeners that Kapfupi’s drinking habit turned their family life into a “toxic battlefield.” He would disappear for days, returning only after the children were already at school, and his drunken episodes sometimes left the kids without food or school fees. “That day broke me,” she said, recalling an incident in which Kapfupi allegedly ate a child’s feces while intoxicated . The emotional toll, she added, pushed her to start drinking herself, and the couple’s relationship spiraled into a cycle of co‑dependency and violence.
The couple, who have four children together (Loice, Stella, Freddie Jnr and Bea) and two more from Kapfupi’s previous marriage, never formalised their union with a traditional _roora_ (bride price). Mai Nga claims the lack of any legal or cultural bond meant she walked away with only the clothes on her back ¹. She also says the house they lived in belongs to Kapfupi’s parents, and the only major asset—a car donated by businessman Wicknell Chivhayo—remains in his possession.
Kapfupi has fired back in a series of interviews, accusing Mai Nga of infidelity and of abandoning him at 1 a.m. with their four children. He alleges she was pregnant by another man, whom he identifies only as “Tonderai,” and that she saved the lover’s contact under the name “Yeukai” in her phone. The comedian says he has “all the V11s” (evidence) and vows to expose the man, even threatening to release a song about the affair.
Both sides have now taken their battle to social media, with fans split between sympathy for the former “street‑theatre king” and admiration for Mai Nga’s decision to speak out. The dispute highlights broader issues of domestic abuse, financial control and the pressure of traditional expectations in Zimbabwe’s entertainment industry.
As the saga unfolds, Mai Nga says she is focused on rebuilding her life, staying with her parents and looking toward a new marriage, while Kapfupi insists he will never take her back and plans to “find a replacement.” The story is far from over, and the public will be watching to see how the drama plays out.