adminTendai Gukutikwa
BAD blood between neighbours saw one of them demanding $10 000 after filing for a defamation-of-character lawsuit. Mukono Mberi, who is in his early 70s, approached the Mutare Civil Court demanding $10 000 from his neighbour, Endura Dapi, accusing her of having made a false tip-off to the police to the effect that he was sexually abusing his two minor children.
The parties appeared before Mrs Sharon Chipanga who adjourned the matter to October 30 after Mberi asked for legal representation.
The court heard that earlier this month, police from Odzi Police Station received a tip-off from an unknown resident to the effect that Mberi, who happens to be a widower, had been sexually abusing his two minor daughters.
Mberi was arrested following the tip-off and later released after the children were medically examined at Mutare Provincial Hospital. The medical examination revealed that the two children were not sexually abused.
“I am so sure it is Dapi who made the tip-off and I need the money because she defamed my reputation back home. Now everybody thinks I raped my children and paid the police off,” said a visibly troubled Mberi.
“She wanted me to rot in jail because we have been having problems as neighbours. She claims I am farming on her land, but I was allocated the land by Government,” added Mberi.
The anonymous tip-off was made a fortnight after Dapi had dragged Mberi to court seeking a protection order against him. The court had also postponed the protection order matter to the October 31.
“Mberi is farming on my land and I approached the courts to help me since he was not co-operating. Now he is suspecting me of having tipped off the police.
“Why would I lie against him? I do not have the money to pay him. Even if I had it, I would not pay him but use it for something else because I did not call the police at any time,” said Dapi.
Online Reporter