Woman gets protection order against hubby, his rel...

Woman gets protection order against hubby, his relatives

Michael Mashiri and Patience Muchemwa

A man who threatened to burn his wife if she did not leave their matrimonial home has been arraigned before the court.

Tonderai Scotti appeared before magistrate Sharon Mashavira at the Harare Civil Court accused by Norest Tichivanhu of being hostile towards her and her children.

She told the court Scotti’s resentment towards her had spilled over to her family as they were no longer wanting her at her matrimonial home.

“He loaded a lorry together with his mother and sister while l was at church. I do not even know where they put the cards l use for the child at the clinic and my national identity card.

“As we speak, the child does not even have anything to wear at school.

“The other day, he came to me and threw papers on me saying l had a three months’ notice with petrol in his hands. He said if l had not vacated the premises he would burn me,” she said.

Tichivanhu told the court that they had acquired the rural home together after they got married but he now wanted to evict her from the property together with the children.

“He once took me to the village head saying he was no longer interested in me and he told us to leave in peace,” she added.

Tichivanhu, who is married customarily to Scotti, highlighted that Scotti’s mother did not care about what was happening in the two’s marriage.

“His mother told me that, there was nothing special about me being divorced as she was also divorced.

“At the moment, he locked all rooms even the bathrooms, we are living in a small room outside,” she said.

She added that Scotti’s father was claiming that she had stolen money from him.

“His father said that l broke into the house and stole US$300. He is a policeman and he claims he is coming to arrest me,” she said.

Scotti rebutted the allegations made by Tirivanhu saying they were all lies.

“Everything is at her parent’s house. She is lying that she is living outside, she is living in the house,” he said.

He told the court that his wife, whom he also accused of infidelity, was in the habit of using love portions on him.

“Your Worship, I am asking for an application for her not to use muti on me. Is it allowed that a wife can go to witchdoctors to give a man love portions or to be untrustworthy?” he asked.

He highlighted that the two were no longer together as he had divorced her.

“I paid a token of divorce to her parents, she is no longer my wife as we terminated the marriage,” he said.

This was, however refuted by Tichivanhu who said she was not even aware of the token of divorce he was talking about.

Mashavira granted a peace order in favour of Tichivanhu. She ordered Scotti not verbally abuse, harass or evict her form the matrimonial home.

“The order if for you to return her property with immediate effect, not to lock the doors without a court order.

“If any of his relatives abuse you, report to them to the police.”