admin
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
There is bad blood between an elderly Mutare woman and her daughter-in-law, resulting in the senior citizen applying for a protection order against the latter.
Gogo Gladys Makombe appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms Ivy Musavengana last week on Thursday and said she is finding it difficult to co-exist with Elizabeth Manyiyo as she constantly ridicules her for being toothless.
Gogo Makombe further stated that Manyiyo has labelled her a witch.
“I have lost many teeth because of my advanced age, which is natural. However, my daughter-in-law says I lost my teeth because of feeding on human flesh. She says that I am a witch and that I lose a tooth each time I feed on human flesh,” said the woman.
The elderly woman said Manyiyo is very disrespectful and she puts on her clothes without seeking her consent.
“According to the Shona traditions and customs, a daughter-in-law should not enter her mother-in-law’s bedroom, but she has been disregarding this. Manyiyo enters my bedroom and wears my clothes. She does all this without seeking my consent. When I confront her, she attacks, assaults and insults me,” said Gogo Makombe.
She went on to show the court some scars on her face and arms, which she claimed were inflicted by Manyiyo following a misunderstanding.
“She no longer wants me at my own homestead, yet I am the rightful person there. My husband died and left me there. I took care of my children until my youngest son married Manyiyo.
“Now she wants me gone because according to her, she is the new Mrs Makombe. I have never heard of a mother-in-law who was sent packing from her homestead by her son’s wife, but this is what is happening to me.
“I do not know what to do. I want to live in peace at my home, but she will not let me. She hates me to the bone. The court should come to my rescue,” said Gogo Makombe.
In response, Manyiyo accused her mother-in-law of being a drama queen who seeks attention through shedding crocodile tears.
She alleged that their real fight was over avocados.
“This woman is evil and she will not show you her true colours in this court. All these are lies.
“She is applying for this protection order to bar my children and l from picking avocado pears from the tree in her yard.
“We are all entitled to the avocado pears. They are her grandchildren and I am her son’s wife, the least she can do is share those avocados with us. Instead, she wants to benefit alone, which is not fair,” said Manyiyo.
She went on to accuse Gogo Makombe of fanning trouble in her marriage.
“Just like what she is doing in this court, she feeds my husband with lies about me. My husband then assaults me.
When I try to seek refuge at her home, with my violent husband in pursuit, she encourages him to inflict more pain on me. As a result, her son has been very abusive to me for the 10 years, with the support of his mother,” she said.
Ms Musavengana granted the order in Gogo Makombe’s favour.
The order will be valid for five years.
Online Reporter