36 years of hell

Rutendo Mazhindu

Zim Now Reporter

A 64-year-old Edward Mutumbonyoka took his wife of 36 years, Jain Chidyo, to court, alleging verbal abuse and assault. The dramatic case unfolded at the Harare Civil Court, leaving onlookers in awe.

Mutumbonyoka recounted the horrors he endured at the hands of his wife, claiming she would assault him in front of friends and family, and even destroy his property. The embattled husband revealed that he had moved out of their matrimonial home to escape the abuse, but his wife would constantly harass him.

"I'm asking for a protection order against my wife, who abuses me and destroys everything," Mutumbonyoka pleaded. "She beats me daily, and my friends no longer visit me because she assaults them too."

The court heard that Mutumbonyoka's wife would often subject him to verbal abuse, calling him names like "idiot" and making derogatory comments about his manhood.

In a surprising response, Jain Chidyo denied all allegations, claiming her husband was seeking excuses to take another wife. "We've been married for 36 years, and I started living with him when I was 17," she said. "Why would I start beating him now?"

Despite Chidyo's denials, Presiding Magistrate Mrs. Meenal Naratam ruled in favor of Mutumbonyoka, granting him a protection order against his wife. Chidyo was ordered not to insult or beat her husband.

This dramatic case highlights the often-hidden reality of domestic abuse and the importance of seeking help. As feature writing expert Kimberlee Meier notes, "Feature stories are a powerful way to capture the imagination of readers and convey complex issues in a compelling narrative"