feared the unborn child was likely to be HIV positive and would not survive, the Harare Civil court heard on Thursday.
This was revealed during the civil trial pitting Mariah Mujeki and Tongai Manyere.
The woman was seeking a peace order against her husband who she accused of abusing her.
However, Manyere claimed that he married another wife after Mujeki refused to bear him a second child.
Mujeki who was visibly seething with anger told the Civil Court magistrate Ms Lynn Manyika that Manyere was quite aware of his status.
“We spent four years without being intimate and in 2004 he married another wife and left to stay with her in Masvingo.
He raped me when he came back after denying him conjugal rights because of the time he had spent away so, I was afraid of his health status.
“When I got pregnant he forced me to abort the child saying that the child will be HIV positive,” she said.
Mujeki told the court that her aunt promised her that she would take care of the child if Manyere disowned his offspring. She also accused Manyere of abusing her and neglecting the family because of the second wife.
“When he gets his money, he goes to Masvingo and leaves us with nothing,” she said.
Manyere, however, did not comment on the claims but said he was prompted to marry another wife because Mujeki had been refusing to have a second child.
After hearing arguments from both parties, Ms Manyika granted Mujeki the relief she sought. – CR.



