Harare woman loses bid to get peace order against neighbour

Belindah Chikandiwa

A WOMAN from Chishawasha has lost her bid to get a protection order against her neighbour, whom she accuses of abusing her and her family.

Harare Civic Court Magistrate Johanna Mukwesha dismissed Esther Chiposi’s application for a peace order against Maria Mafunga, her neighbour on the basis that she did not have any evidence that shows her life was being threatened.

Chiposi claimed that Mafunga abuses her because she is rich, and she always tells her that she cannot do anything to stop her because she is poor and she is rich and has connections that can destroy her.

“This woman is always on my case. She claims that she is the chairwoman of an association called Evergreen that is in the area that we live in,” Chiposi said.

“She is demanding that I contribute US$4 000 towards a road that they constructed. I refused to give her because I am not part of that association and l never signed up anywhere. Since l refused, she started giving me a hard time to the extent that she barred me access to the road and I now use the bush.

“She told my builders to start work after 9 am because that is when she wakes up. My children are also not allowed to play around our yard before 9 am because of that. I am not rich like her, she lives in a double-storey house and she tells me that l shouldn’t have come to live here because it’s a place for the rich people and there is nothing I can do to stop her because she is rich and has connections everywhere.”

Mafunga, represented by her lawyer, denied the allegations, saying that Chiposi is trying to divert attention from the fact that she owes her association money.

“She is using this order as a way to dismiss the fact that she owes the association money,” she said.