‘I’ve scars all over my body from 24 years of abuse’

Faith Mandizha

A HUSBAND and wife have applied for protection orders against each other at the Harare Civil Court.

Ernest Chipi sought a protection order against his wife, Zephaniah Masuka, claiming she was in the habit of assaulting and harassing him.

“At one time she tried to strike me with an axe and our landlord came to my rescue by grabbing the axe from her. She then struck me with a hoe one day and I have scars to show the extent of her abuse.

“She even chased me out of our house while I was naked.

“She is denying me access to the tuckshop,” he said.

Zeph applied for a counter protection order, saying she was, in fact, the victim of abuse in the marriage.

“I’m opposed to his application. He married me when I was just 18 years and I have been suffering since then.

“He sleeps in lodges with prostitutes and takes all my money. He took my property to the rural areas and is a very violent man.

“He kicked my daughters out of the house, forcing them to get married.

“I have scars all over my body as evidence of the horrors I have faced for the past 24 years of marriage to him,” she said.

Magistrate Tamara Chibindi dismissed Ernest’s application saying it lacked merit and granted Zeph’s order.