Online ReporterSpiwe Sarakunze
Herald Reporter
A WOMAN appeared in the Harare Civil Magistrates Court seeking a protection order against her husband’s brothers.
She is accusing them of harassment and violence over shared family property.
However, her case failed when the magistrate found that her husband was not related to the two men and that the woman even had a conviction for drug dealing.
Ms Talent Njeki claimed that Isaac and Matthew Chirekeni, her husband’s brothers, had made her life unbearable in the house she shares with them in Highfield while her husband is in South Africa.
“They are abusing me because my husband is not here to defend me,” Ms Njeki told the court.
“They harass me daily and have even demanded I pay US$60 rent out of their greed. When Uncle Isaac is drunk, he locks me out of the house, throws my belongings outside, and insults me.
“He wants me gone because he is greedy and wants to put a tenant in the room, even though my husband also has a right to live in this house.”
In his defence, Isaac Chirekeni denied all allegations, asserting that Ms Njeki’s husband is not their biological brother and, therefore, had no claim to the family property.
“Her husband is not related to us by blood,” Isaac Chirekeni argued. He has no rights to this house, and his wife should leave and take care of herself elsewhere.
Matthew Chirekeni also denied harassing Ms Njeki, instead accused her of turning the family home into a hub for illegal activities.
“I want her out of our father’s house because she is using it as a drug centre,” Matthew alleged.
“She sells drugs, and everyone in the community knows it. We even reported her to Machipisa Police Station, but nothing came of it. Her husband is not our biological brother, and that is why he is silent. She knows he has no rights to this property. She is lying about us disturbing her peace because she is trying to cover up her own wrongdoings.”
Confronted with these accusations, Ms Njeki admitted to her past involvement in drug dealing, revealing that she had served an eight-month prison sentence for her actions.
After weighing the testimonies from all parties, presiding magistrate Ms Judith Taruvinga ruled against granting the protection order.
