Online Reporter
Alicia Kadzviti
Herald Reporter
A routine protection order hearing at the Harare Civil Court dramatically escalated when a man admitted that he and his ex-wife were involved in drug dealing, leading to their immediate arrest.
Tambudzai Kaserera had approached the court seeking a protection order against her ex-husband, Tapiwa Kaserera, accusing him of abuse and threatening him with violence.
She told the court that Tapiwa was a habitual drug user who became verbally abusive when intoxicated.
She also alleged that he insults her, calls her derogatory names, and makes disturbing accusations involving their 14-year-old son.
“He becomes very violent when he is high and calls me a witch and accuses me of sleeping with my son,” she said
Tambudzai further claimed that Tapiwa threatened to burn down the house with her and the children inside if she attempted to leave him.
She also alleged that he had previously attempted to stab her with a screwdriver in front of their children and had physically assaulted her on multiple occasions.
“I have many scars because of him. Whenever I try to separate from him, he threatens my children and I,” she said
However, Tapiwa denied the allegations and opposed the application for a protection order. He told the court that the conflict began after he caught Tambudzai red-handed with another man at their home.
He said he chose to forgive her in an effort to preserve their marriage and claimed they were still living together.
“This issue started when I caught her in bed with her boyfriend in our house and I forgave her,” he said
Tambudzai dismissed claims that they were living together, maintaining that the house belonged solely to her, as she had purchased the stand and built the property on her own.
She admitted that she allowed Tapiwa access to the house out of fear of retaliation if she refused him entry.
“He comes to my house unannounced and uninvited. We do not live together. I do not want him because of his behaviour,” she said
The case took an unexpected turn when Tapiwa, attempting to demonstrate that their relationship was ongoing, told the court that he and Tambudzai were jointly involved in the use and sale of illegal substances, including dagga, cocaine, and broncleer, as a source of income.
Following the admission, presiding Magistrate Janemary Makonye halted the proceedings, noting that a criminal offence had been disclosed in court.
Both parties were immediately taken into custody to allow for further investigations into the alleged drug activities.
The matter is now being treated as a criminal case.
