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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
A 72-YEAR-OLD woman has dragged her in-law to court, accusing him of harassing her in a conflict which they are having over custody of their two-year-old granddaughter.
Ms Ntebulo Nkala of Nhanha area in Gwanda who is the maternal great grandmother of the child said the paternal grandfather Shadreck Sibanda (65) was in a habit of insulting her and taking away the child by force.
She pleaded with the court to grant her a protection order to bar Sibanda from invading her homestead, taking the child and harassing her.
“My granddaughter was impregnated by Sibanda’s son and they stayed together for sometime but she has since returned home and she is staying with me. My two-year-old great granddaughter that we are clashing over is also staying with me.
“The problem I’m having is that Sibanda is constantly coming to my homestead and demanding that we give him the child to reside at his homestead.
At times when I’m not around he takes the child by force. He also threatens to assault me and my family. I won’t allow him to take this child as she deserves to stay with her mother,” she said.
Ms Nkala said her family has never denied the Sibanda family access to the child as they allowed her to visit her paternal family but Sibanda was still being problematic.
In response, Sibanda did not object to the protection order being granted but denied harassing Ms Nkala or taking the child by force from her. He said Ms Nkala was the one who was in the habit of denying his family access to the child whenever they asked to see her. Sibanda said Ms Nkala was the one who was constantly insulting him and accusing him of trying to steal her great granddaughter which were false allegations.
“Ms Nkala’s granddaughter is the one who left my son suddenly but we still view her as our daughter-in- law and I want what’s best for my granddaughter,” he said.
Gwanda magistrate, Mr Obedience Matare who presided over the matter granted the protection order to Ms Nkala. He ordered Sibanda to desist from insulting or threatening Ms Nkala with any form of violence.
Mr Matare also warned Sibanda against taking the child by force but, however, ordered Ms Nkala to allow her in-law reasonable access to the child upon appointment.-@DubeMatutu
Bongani Ndlovu