admin Gibson Mhaka
A lecturer with the National University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo has been sued by his wife for verbally and physically abusing her.
Phio Mahlanza Ngulube (72) who stays in Woodlands was last week at the Bulawayo Civil Court where his wife Constance Ngulube (60) had dragged him while seeking a protection order.
Constance bared her soul at the court saying she was at one time forced to spend the whole night in the toilet after Phio ran berserk and threatened to beat her up. She further said on 10 August her husband also assaulted her as punishment for refusing to go with him to church.
Narrating her ordeal, an emotional Constance said: a�?On the night of 10 August this year and soon after taking my medication my husband verbally and physically assaulted me. He forcibly grabbed and shoved me before tripping me to the ground. The reason being that I had refused to go with him to church.
a�?During the assault I managed to escape and took refuge in the toilet where I locked myself the whole night. As a result of the assault I sustained several injuries all over my body. On other occasions whenever he threatened to beat me up I ran away. I want the court to protect me by granting a protection order against hima�?.
In response Phio, however, disputed his wifea��s claims.
a�?I simply held her as she wanted to move away. She sustained injuries after she slipped from my hands and fell down,a�? he said.
In his ruling presiding magistrate Sheunesu Matova ordered Phio not to verbally and physically abuse his wife before he referred the couple for counselling.
derick.khumalo