adminMpumelelo Nyoni Chronicle Reporter
A 55-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo woman and her family have been living on the street for the past three weeks after the family house was allegedly sold by her ex-husband. The woman, Lillian Rugwete, whose family includes three minor children, has now set up camp outside the house in protest over the eviction.
Rugwete’s ex-husband, Isaac Rugwete, allegedly sold their Thorngrove suburb home without her consent.
Kanavet Phiri, brother of the new owner of the house, has since dragged Rugwete to the civil court.
It is alleged that the new owner, Mavis Phiri, resides in Harare.
Phiri is seeking a peace order against Rugwete and Thorngrove residents’ association chairperson, Charles Ncube, who he accuses of inciting fellow residents to conduct daily demonstrations against him outside the house.
When Chronicle visited the house three weeks ago, Ncube described the sale of the house then as “scandalous”.
He accused Phiri and her lawyer, Shepherd Mazibisa of corruptly acquiring the house.
In his affidavit dated October 28, Phiri alleges that Rugwete and Ncube and their “thugs” have been violating his privacy.
“I do hereby make an application for a peace order against Mrs Rugwete of 37 Aloe Crescent, Thorngrove, Charles Ncube and their associates, agents and thugs who have consistently made a vigil and camped outside my residence for the past three weeks,” reads the affidavit.
Phiri also alleges that the defendants chanted provocative and derogatory slogans.
He said they even cut off electricity and water thereby disturbing his peace.
Rugwete and her husband, Isaac, divorced in 2005.
An order issued at the High Court stated that in the event of the house being sold, both parties were to share the proceeds equally.
However, Isaac allegedly went behind his ex-wife’s back and sold the house to Mavis Phiri.
Apparently Mavis was at that time suing Isaac over a debt and the matter was before the High Court (case number26/13).
Online Reporter