Online Reporter
Lynnet Khaka
A BITTER dispute involving five neighbours spilled into the Harare Civil Courts today, with four of the neighbours seeking peace orders against the fifth neighbour, whom they accused of abusing them.
Artwell Mutize, Joseline Mashavira, Maidei Dotito, and Nomazulu Manhlangu successfully sought peace orders against Mercy Mukombwe, after laying a litany of allegations ranging from late-night insults to physical threats and defamation.
Presiding Magistrate Hannah Fazilamed granted the orders after hearing emotionally charged testimonies from all four neighbours, all detailing a pattern of alleged harassment by Mukombwe.
The first to take the stand was Mutize, who accused Mukombwe of repeatedly disturbing his peace by directing vulgar insults at him and his children.
In her defence, Mukombwe dismissed the claims as lies, stating they “don’t even talk,” and suggested Mutize had been influenced by the other three complainants to testify against her.
Mashavira followed, alleging that Mukombwe labelled her a witch and brazenly came to her home as late as 10 pm to insult her and her husband.
“She tells people bad things about me in the neighbourhood,” Mashavira told the court.
Mukombwe countered with a shocking allegation of her own, claiming Mashavira once gave her a substance to use on another woman who later died, and was now fearing for her life.
In her testimony, Dotito claimed Mukombwe publicly accused her of stealing her vending stall. The confrontation turned physical, Dotito alleged, when Mukombwe punched her 13-year-old daughter following an altercation with her (Mukombwe’s) child.
Manhlangu accused Mukombwe of allegedly labelling her a prostitute because her husband uses different vehicles.
Mukombwe dismissed Manhlangu’s claims, saying she is “just being used” against her. She admitted that they had had misunderstandings in the past but claimed they were resolved.
After considering the accounts, Magistrate Fazilamed found sufficient grounds to issue peace orders in favour of all four applicants against Mukombwe.
The magistrate ordered her to maintain peace and cease all forms of harassment against her four neighbours.
