adminLuthando Mapepa
AN incensed Chipinge man who claimed to be a traditional healer had no kind words for his son-in-law and threatened to lock him inside a bottle following a heated misunderstanding over the payment of lobola.
Oliver Gwenzi had to approach the Chipinge Civil Courts for a protection order against his son-in-law, Trymore Tamunzwa, whom he accused of frequenting his place of residence disturbing his peace by verbally hurling abuses at him after he took his daughter away from him.
Mr Noah Gwatidzo presided over the case.
Gwenzi said he was forced to take away his daughter from Tamunzwa after he failed to pay the bride price. Gwenzi also accused Tamunzwa of ill-treating her, accusing her of being barren.
“This man took away my 17-year-old school going girl to live with her as his wife. She is no longer attending school. He phoned me claiming that my daughter is barren and he no longer loved her. That is the reason why I took her back.
“He always comes to my place of residence at any time of the day, even at night shouting at me. What I want is for him not to set foot at my homestead, disturbing my peace,” said Gwenzi.
Trymore, however, dismissed his in-law’s claims and said he still loved his girlfriend. He claimed that she was forcibly taken away from him.
“Your Worship, I fell in love with my girlfriend and I approached my in-laws to open lobola payment negotiations. I paid part of the lobola. I then took my wife to my workplace and we had a misunderstanding there. My wife phoned her father about the issue and he ordered me to bring back his daughter.
“He at first sent his orders through a woman from his family. He then came himself to forcibly take away his daughter. He also took my blankets as well as a $20 note that was underneath my blankets,” said Trymore.
Trymore said he only approached his in-laws’ homestead once when he went to claim his money back, only to receive threats from him.
“I did not harass him. I only went to his homestead to get back my $20 which he took under my blankets. He claimed that he is a traditional healer and can force me to fit into a bottle. He later ordered me to make arrangements for lobola payment,” he said.
Trymore said he approached the aunt who ordered him to pay $20 for him to get back his wife. In his ruling, Mr Gwatidzo was barred from visiting Gwenzi’s homestead as well as not to verbally, emotionally and physically harass him. Failure to comply with the court ruling will result in him facing a jail term.
Online Reporter