Langa Mabena
Danisa Masuku
A woman who felt that her rights were being infringed upon by her male co-tenant dragged him to court for disclosing her HIV status and for erecting a boundary in the yard.
The woman whose name is being withheld, from Bulawayo’s Pumula South suburb, told the court that she was facing difficulties due to her co-tenant, who also reported her to the residents’ chairperson, alleging that she had given him food laced with poison.
“Not only that,” continued, “but my troublesome co-tenant is also in the habit of telling people about my HIV status.
I haven’t disclosed my HIV status to anyone in our residence, but (he) has the audacity to go around the neighbourhood spreading rumours about it. I feel deeply humiliated and demeaned in the eyes of the public,” she said.
However, the man vehemently denied the allegations.
“I don’t know what she is talking about. In fact, her child harasses and torments my child. I tried to engage her in a conversation about this, but she was not receptive.”
Bulawayo magistrate Challenge Mahembe granted the woman a protection order.
The order prevents the man from verbally and emotionally abusing her. The order is valid for 12 months
derick.khumalo