Online Reporter
Solomon Bhumu
Weekender Reporter
A DANGAMVURA woman, Vimbai Gotora, has been granted a one-year protection order against her neighbhour, Joshua Chigodora, whom she accused of relentless harassment after rejecting his romantic advances.
Gotora approached the Mutare Civil Court seeking legal protection from Chigodora, whom she described as “insecure” and increasingly aggressive towards any male she associates with.
In her testimony, Gotora revealed that Chigodora proposed a romantic relationship in June, which she spurned.
Since then, she alleged that he has been monitoring her movements and intimidating her male friends.
“Your worship, I and my neighbhour were on good terms until I rejected his love proposal. Now he is very insecure to the extent of harassing every man I associate with,” she told the court, further claiming that Chigodora’s behaviour gets worse when he is intoxicated.
She said he becomes verbally abusive and demands to know who she is sexually
involved with.
“I was surprised one day when he approached me asking if we could be intimate, and I turned him down. I reminded him that I was not his wife,” said Gotora.
Fearing for her safety, Gotora said she had resorted to staying indoors to avoid encounters with Chigodora, whom she described as unpredictable and potentially dangerous. In his defence, Chigodora did not dispute the allegations.
Instead, he explained that he and Gotora had been close since their teen years, and he believed their friendship had evolved into a romantic one.
“I do not deny being insecure about Gotora associating with other male friends.
I thought we were now in love because we had known each other for a long time.
I regret my actions though and I have already apologised to her,” he said.
Chigodora admitted that seeing Gotora with other men made him feel hurt and jealous, leading him to harass and threaten those he perceived as his romantic rivals.
Mutare magistrate, Ms Thandiwe Sibanda granted the protection order, effective for one year and sternly advised Chigodora to respect Gotora’s personal boundaries.
“Find love elsewhere, and do not interfere with her affairs,” she warned, adding that any further harassment will result in his arrest and incarceration.
