Online Reporter
Spiwe Sarakunze
Herald Reporter
A 24-YEAR-OLD woman recently won a restraining order in the Civil Court against her former boyfriend (60), whose persistent suicide threats and harassment have left her feeling trapped and fearful.
Jehovah Muzamani faced the court action initiated by Ohtilia Muzerengeni after he threatened to commit suicide following their breakup.
Ms Muzerengeni recounted her relationship with Mr Muzamani, which began when she was 21. She shared good moments, but ultimately decided to end the relationship.
“I told him that I could not continue. Mr Muzamani then threatened to commit suicide,” she said during the hearing before Magistrate Ms Johanna Mukwesha.
Ms Muzerengeni expressed her desire to move on, noting that she was now engaged to a man her own age.
She accused Mr Muzamani of stalking and harassing her after their split.
Her parents had initially supported their relationship, providing a lobola list, which added pressure to stay together.
Mr Muzamani’s suicide threats reportedly intensified when he learned that Ms Muzerengeni was seeing someone else, specifically a colleague’s brother.
She further alleged that he publicly insulted her, claiming she squandered his money, despite his financial support during her college years. She detailed instances of harassment and even physical assault.
She described how Mr Muzamani pressured her to accept him back, leading to public altercations. During their final confrontation, Mr Muzamani attempted to manipulate her by threatening to drink poison, but she remained resolute in her decision to move on.
Ms Muzerengeni emphasised her need to end the four-year relationship, citing emotional abuse and the mockery she faced from friends about her choice of partners.
“I thank you Muzamani for what you did to me. I was only young to accept your proposal, and now that I am mature, I know what is good for me,” she said.
In court, Mr Muzamani lamented the loss of their relationship, expressing feelings of heartbreak and desperation.
“I invested so much in her and never expected that she would leave,” he said, reflecting on his emotional turmoil.
He acknowledged his choice of a much younger partner as a mistake that had devastating consequences, stating that he felt already dead without her.
The magistrate advised Mr Muzanami to seek professional help to address his emotional struggles and ordered that he ceases all harassment towards Ms Muzerengeni.
