Online Reporter
Sekai Manyere
Herald Reporter
A HARARE couple has been granted a reciprocal protection order against each other by the Harare Civil Court following allegations of domestic violence, harassment and threats.
Mrs Patience Bodzo appeared before the court claiming that her husband, Mr Michael Bodzo, was harassing, threatening, verbally and emotionally abusing her.
She told the court that her husband had threatened to shoot her with a pistol.
“He has been threatening to kill me with a pistol. He abuses me emotionally and physically. He must stop beating, threatening, verbally and emotionally abusing me,” she said.
Mrs Bodzo told the court she had been forced to flee their home due to the abuse.
“I ran away from home because Michael has been beating me,” she said.
She said she had medical reports showing that she had been beaten.
Mr Bodzo told the court that he has lived with his wife for over 30 years and expects her to know what he wants.
He said he usually lives outside the country and dismissed the allegations as false.
“I do not stay with her. I usually stay out of the country,” he said.
He said he became angry after his wife was involved in an accident with a vehicle he had bought for her.
“She is reckless and useless because she crashed with a brand-new Toyota Hilux that I had bought for her,” he said.
“She did fake panel beating when repairing the car. Being careless with things is one of the issues that makes me go mad at her.
“She does not work. I bought her a car and a house and she does not have a sense of responsibility.”
Mr Bodzo told the court that he had bought a three-bedroom flat in Pretoria for the benefit of their children during their tertiary education.
“I bought these houses for my children to stay in when pursuing their degrees in South Africa,” he said.
He accused his wife of wasting resources by renting accommodation for their child instead of using the flat.
“She told our child to stay in a rented apartment, not in the flat that I bought to cut costs. She is completely a useless person,” he said.
Mr Bodzo admitted to assaulting his wife when angry.
“I do not hesitate to beat her whenever I am angry. I do not hesitate to beat her with a chair or a table when I get angry,” he said.
After hearing submissions from both parties, presiding magistrate Ms Johanna Mukwesha granted a reciprocal protection order barring both parties from harassing and insulting each other.
The order is valid for five years. Ms Mukwesha ordered the couple to live in peace and to attend counselling within three months.
