Online Reporter
Fidelis Chavarike
Weekender Reporter
PATRICIA Mujaji, a resident of Chikanga 3, has been granted a protection order against her husband, Takudzwa Chikamwe, who stands accused of assaulting, harassing and sexually abusing her.
The couple appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms Purity Gumbo, where Mujaji recounted the alleged abuse.
Despite their marriage not being officially dissolved, the couple has been staying in separate houses.
However, Mujaji claimed that Chikamwe continues to insult and harass her, exploiting on a protection order he purportedly possesses.
“We now stay in different residences since he decided to move to Chikanga 2. When he comes back, he demands sex, and sometimes beats me, and it has not been good for me. He demanded that I should stay with him, but I refused. He took our marital property and moved with it to Chikanga 2, and I was left with nothing,” she said.
Mujaji also said Chikamwe obtained a protection order against her, blocking her from accessing their matrimonial home.
“We built a house together, and he sought a protection order against me, and I can’t visit our home. Chikamwe has been harassing me, calling me names in front of our children, which is so embarrassing because I am slowly losing my dignity in the community. The main issue is that he has been forcing me to move in with him.”
Chikamwe alleged that Mujaji was seeking the protection order to retaliate against the one he obtained earlier against her, citing an incident where he saw her with another man.
However, his credibility was undermined when the court found that he had planned to apply for a protection order on the same day, but had falsely claimed to already possess one.
“I noticed some changes and I decided for us to move and stay in Chikanga 2 because she was starting to get romantically involved with a man who lives in the same residential area. We are not yet divorced, and I still cater for the rentals of where she stays and for myself too. I pay the rentals and where I stay now is cheaper than where she wants to stay,” he said.
Chikamwe’s attempt to deceive the court was exposed when Ms Gumbo discovered he had not obtained a protection order against his wife, as he had claimed.
When questioned, Chikamwe admitted lying, adding that he wanted to avoid embarrassment at work.
Ms Gumbo chastised him, emphasising that a protection order does not bar a spouse from their marital home.
Ms Gumbo advised Chikamwe to seek legal counsel regarding the marital property, suggesting that dissolving the union might be the best course of action to avoid further conflict.
“Protection order does not bar a spouse from their marital home, and from the records I have, I don’t see where he was granted protection. Seek legal counsel concerning the issue of the marital house and property for advice. It is safe to completely dissolve the union if it is not working because you might beat her to death someday,” Gumbo.
Ultimately, the court granted Mujaji the protection order.
