YEARS ago, in the tranquil town of Kariba, a married woman’s secret life unravelled with devastating consequences.
She had left her husband and family to work at a fishing camp, selling essentials to fishermen.
At the camp, she met another man, a fisherman, and entered into a temporal marriage.
In exchange for companionship, he provided her with fish and financial support.
However, fate struck when her fisherman husband drowned during a fishing accident on Lake Kariba.
The news spread quickly, and sympathies poured in from the community.
Unbeknown to her, her real husband in Kariba heard about her “widowhood”.
The truth eventually surfaced, leading to the dissolution of their marriage.
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“I lost my marriage when my real husband heard about my widowhood,” narrated Jane*, reflecting on the tragic turn of events.
Tracy, a fish trader based at Ndomo Fishing Camp, recounted a similar story.
“Years back, one of these women who was based in Kariba, married and wedded, went to one of the fishing camps. She stayed there for months selling various things, including food and clothing,” she said.
“While she was there, she met another man and they got married for some time to this fisherman, receiving fish in exchange. One day, her fisherman husband went to fish and died in Lake Kariba.
“News of his death spread, and people consoled her. Later on, her real husband of years in Kariba heard this news, leading to their separation.”
On the sun-kissed shores of Lake Kariba, a secret world of deception and survival has emerged.
Amid the bustling fish markets and serene waters, married women are taking on the roles of fish traders by day and clandestine entrepreneurs by night.
This transformation is driven by a quest for financial stability in a precarious profession.
These women navigate a complex landscape where traditional gender roles often limit their economic opportunities.
By engaging in fish trading, they not only contribute to their household incomes, but also challenge societal norms.
This dual existence reflects the economic necessity many face, as they seek to provide for their families in an environment where opportunities can be scarce.
“It’s true that we go there in disguise as fish traders, but by the time we get there, we find fishermen who are able to take care of us, give us fish in exchange for sex, and then eventually, we start staying together,” said one married woman based at Fothergil Fishing Camp.
She added that her real husband, who is employed by one of the kapenta fishing companies in the resort town, is in the dark about her double marriage.
Another fish trader expressed joy about her double life.
“Please do not disclose my identity, my husband will divorce me. But the truth is, when I go to one of these fishing camps in Kariba, I stay with this young fisherman who is good both in bed and financially. I have been doing this for five years now,” she said.
This phenomenon highlights how women are redefining their roles within their communities.
Their stories are a testament to the lengths individuals will go to secure a better future, often operating in the shadows to achieve their goals.
The hidden reality at Lake Kariba underscores the broader challenges and triumphs of women in similar situations across the globe.
Kariba-based social commentator Praise Ndlovu said morality is low in some female fish traders in Kariba.
“It is no longer news that fish traders do engage in temporal marriages with fish mongers at fish camps,” Ndlovu said.
“This is fuelled by the current economic hardships, morality is suspended in this case. However, some women , the majority of them, focus on their mission, fish trading, and go back home to their families.”
*Not her real name
