Online Reporter
Spiwe Sarakunze
Herald Reporter
For 26 years she endured abuse at the hands of her husband but a Harare woman has finally gathered the courage to free herself from the abusive relationship.
Ms Chenai Munyaradze revealed the abuse she has endured in her marriage to Mr Oscar Mariranyika at the Harare Civil Court today.
“He is very violent. He attacked me with a screwdriver, threatening to kill me,” Ms Munyaradze said.
“For the past 26 years, I was quiet, thinking that he was going to change all because I asked him to find work so that we may help each other.”
Ms Munyaradze claimed that her husband has changed from being a loving man into a violent, unemployed abuser, who not only abandoned his responsibilities as a father and husband but has also become a constant source of fear in his own home.
Her courage to speak was influenced by a night of terror at the hands of her husband.
“One night, after I had begged him to look for a job because we couldn’t get enough, he got so angry and took a screwdriver, pointed it at me, saying he would kill me if I ever spoke to him like that again,” she said.
“He had no shame or remorse. He stood over me and promised to end my life, just because he is lazy.”
She said what began as excuses of hard times and limited job opportunities over the years gradually turned into a stubborn declaration when he said he simply didn’t want to work.
“I tried to understand at first, we were both struggling, but over time, he just gave up completely,” she said.
“He would sit at home the whole day while I hustled to put food on the table.”
She said that the abuse has been going on for years behind closed doors and she remained silent out of fear and hope that things would one day improve.
Ms Munyaradze also disclosed that her husband would often shout at her in front of their children, telling them that she is useless and a woman who wants to control him.
She said her husband’s behaviour was affecting their children’s mental health and they are living in constant fear of their father.
“That screwdriver incident made me realise I had to speak out. If I die in silence, my children will be motherless, which is the reason why I tried to vacate the premises to refresh my mind.
“I love him but I can no longer allow fear to live in my house. I want safety for myself and my children,” she said.
In his rebuttal, Mr Mariranyika denied all the allegations, claiming to be the victim.
“My wife only takes advantage that she is the one who goes to work. She insults me, saying that I am poor and useless,” he argued.
According to his submissions, his wife is in the habit of denying him conjugal rights, identifying it as the source of their conflict.
“She does not want to seek counselling, I approached her aunties, but she refused to go. Therefore, she is fabricating facts against me,” he said.
The presiding magistrate, Ms Johanna Mukwesha, granted the protection order in favour of Ms Munyaradze.
She barred Mr Mariranyika from physically abusing, threatening and harassing his wife and both parties were also advised to seek counselling.
Online Reporter