Online Reporter
Tendai Vambe
Weekender Reporter
A PREGNANT Mutare woman has obtained a five-year protection order against her co-wife after alleging that she was subjected to threatening messages, abusive phone calls and insults targeting her physical disability.
The feuding parties appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms Sarah Kanyenze, who granted the order.
Nyabadza said she had endured persistent harassment from Rosemary Sanders, with whom she shares the same husband.
Nyabadza said the relationship between the two women had deteriorated to the extent that she no longer felt safe or comfortable communicating with Sanders.
“She sends me threatening messages,” said Nyabadza.
She further alleged that Sanders frequently called her and used the conversations to insult and humiliate her, including making derogatory remarks about her disability.
“She is also making phone calls insulting me, insulting me about my disability on the leg,” she said.
Nyabadza alleged that some of the messages were later deleted, making it difficult for her to retain evidence of the communication.
“She also deletes the messages she would have sent me over the phone,” she said.
Nyabadza said the alleged abuse had caused her considerable emotional distress, particularly given that she is expecting a child.
Seeking relief from the court, Nyabadza said she wanted all direct communication between herself and Sanders to cease.
“I don’t want communication with her on my phone. I want her to be stopped from communicating with me,” she said.
She further alleged that Sanders had told her that she would not be able to take any action against her, a statement she interpreted as a threat.
The dispute is believed to stem from tensions linked to their shared husband.
After hearing the matter, Ms Kanyenze granted a protection order prohibiting Sanders from threatening, harassing or verbally abusing Nyabadza.
The court warned that failure to comply with the terms of the order could result in a warrant of arrest being issued against the respondent.
The protection order will remain in force for five years.
