Online Reporter
Tendai Vambe
Weekender Reporter
A MUTARE woman has been granted a five-year protection order against her husband, a police officer, after alleging that she endured more than two decades of physical abuse during their marriage.
The matter was heard before Mutare magistrate, Ms Sarah Kanyenze, who granted the order against Onias Mechibvuri after hearing submissions from both parties.
His wife, Emilia Mechibvuri, said she had suffered repeated assaults over the course of their 22-year marriage, leaving her with injuries to her eye, teeth, hands and legs.
Emilia said the latest altercation left her with a dislocated hand after she attempted to defend herself.
“Your Worship, I tried to defend myself and my hand was dislocated. If I lift heavy objects, it becomes painful,” she said.
She further alleged that her husband bit and assaulted her during the incident, forcing her to spend the night outside their matrimonial home.
Emilia said the latest assault was the fourth major incident she had reported, adding that the abuse had been ongoing for approximately 22 years.
She also alleged that her husband threatened to severely assault their 18-year-old daughter.
The complainant said previous efforts to address the matter had failed, and claimed she feared she would not receive justice because of her husband’s position within the police service.
“He says the law will not take charge, and that I will not get any justice because he works at a criminal court,” she alleged.
Emilia further claimed that her husband routinely told her that his position as a police officer placed him beyond the reach of the law.
She also said while her husband allegedly wanted her out of their matrimonial home, he was refusing to divorce her.
In his defence, Onias denied all the allegations, and accused his wife of using protection orders to gain an upper hand in domestic disputes.
“My wife has a problem of using protection orders as a shield so that I have no say over domestic issues,” he said.
He maintained that the couple’s conflicts were mutual, alleging that his wife also assaulted him.
“We fight and she also beats me. We fight over everything,” he told the court.
Onias said he preferred that the couple seek counselling through family elders.
“She does not want elders to counsel us,” he said.
He further alleged that his wife was using protection orders to prevent him from participating in decisions concerning their matrimonial home.
In delivering her ruling, Ms Kanyenze emphasised that no individual, regardless of profession or status, is above the law.
The court subsequently granted a five-year protection order prohibiting Onias from abusing or assaulting the complainant and the couple’s minor children.
The order expressly noted that employment with the Zimbabwe Republic Police does not grant immunity from legal accountability.
A warrant of arrest was suspended on condition that the respondent fully complies with the terms of the protection order.
