Online Reporter
Solomon Bhumu
Weekender Reporter
A PENHALONGA man, Farai Khumbula, has been granted a protection order against his ex-wife, Sharon Marange, after accusing her of persistent harassment, assaults, and verbal abuse at his place of residence and workplace.
The civil court, presided over by Mutare magistrate, Ms Thandiwe Sibanda, ruled in favour of Khumbula, after he described a pattern of aggressive behaviour from Marange.
The order prohibits the respondent from committing acts, such as harassing or assaulting the complainant, and remains valid until it is set aside or cancelled by the court. The respondent must adhere to the terms and conditions of the order, and any breach can result in her arrest.
Khumbula told the court that Marange has refused to accept the end of their seven-year marriage, during which they had two children together.
“Your worship, I am sick and tired of my ex-wife. I do not know what is wrong with her ever since we divorced. She hires strangers to assault me, alleging that they are her brothers, accusing me of using their sister,” said Khumbula.
He told the court that Marange regularly visits his phone shop to insult, and accuse him of cheating and abandoning her. On one occasion, she allegedly sent people, posing as her relatives, to physically attack him.
Khumbula also recounted a disturbing incident from June in which Marange visited his place of residence while he was at work. Upon finding his current partner at home, she allegedly hurled insults and used vulgar language, labelling her a prostitute, and insisting that she was still legally married to Khumbula.
“This year, Your worship, when I was at work, she went to my place of residence and insulted my wife, labelling her a prostitute, and claiming that she is still in love with me, which is a lie,” he testified.
The court heard that during their marriage, Khumbula struggled to be respected by Marange.
He claimed that she frequently communicated inappropriately with other men, even in his presence, undermining his role as head of the household.
He also cited infidelity as the root cause of their separation.
Khumbula said a neighbour tipped him off after seeing Marange in a compromising position with another man in a parked car. When he confronted her, she allegedly lied, arguing that the man was her aunt’s husband.
“When I confronted Marange upon finding her with another man, she lied to me, and told me that it was her aunt’s husband. She said they discussing some family issues concerning her aunt’s children. I was angry, but I let her go,” said Khumbula.
However, Marange denied that they had formally separated. She told the court that she had simply given Khumbula space to determine whether he truly wanted to be a responsible father, and accused him of failing to provide all the necessities for their children.
“If I remember correctly we never separated, but I just told him that he needed space to think if he wants to be a father because he was not maintaining his children,” said Marange.
Khumbula, however, dismissed her claims as manipulative, alleging that she only returned after realising that his phone business had become successful.
He accused her of being financially motivated and attempting to force her way back into his life. Ms Sibanda ruled in Khumbula’s favour, and granted the protection order, while warning Marange against any further attempts to insult, assault, or visit Khumbula’s residence with the intention of causing violence.
“Any further acts of aggression may result in imprisonment,” warned Ms Sibanda.
