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Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
A WOMAN who died in a petrol fire attack with her cousin in Gweru recently was married to her attacker and had applied for a protection order against him because he was abusive.
Ms Nancy Lorraine Sibanda and her cousin Ms Cynthia Hlabangana died at Harare’s Parirenyatwa Hospital from injuries they sustained after Garikayi Zvamada Tabaringa (43), a notorious gold panner, attacked them on December 3.
In her court application five days before the horrific attack, Ms Sibanda said she had moved from the matrimonial home because Tabaringa had homicidal tendencies.
She said she was no longer interested in Tabaringa because of his abusive nature at home and in public.
“When he gets drunk, he beats me for no reason. He uses dangerous weapons like knives, iron bars and hoes. He always threatens me at home and in public saying he wants to kill me.
“He always shouts at me using vulgar words. He takes my money by force and misuses it. He forces me to sleep with him after beating me up and when I say I no longer love him he threatens to kill me. He tells me that even if I go anywhere he will hunt me down and hurt me and so I am asking for a peace order against him,” said Ms Sibanda.
Tabaringa of Ascot suburb allegedly broke a window, poured petrol into the room where Sibanda and Hlabangana were sleeping before setting it on fire at around 2AM.
According to Civil Court records case number PO181, Ms Sibanda on November 28 applied for a protection order against Tabaringa.
She was advised to return to the same court on December 15 for a hearing.
In her application Ms Sibanda said she was once married to Tabaringa.
“Garikayi Zvawanda Tabaringa who resides at 513 Tembo Road, Ascot, Gweru was my husband for the past two years and should no longer interfere with my life. He should not come at my workplace and where I stay,” wrote Ms Sibanda in her affidavit.
On December 7, Tabaringa and his accomplice Itai Manyoka (34), a taxi driver, appeared before Gweru magistrate Ms Judith Taruvinga, each facing two counts of murder.
She did not ask them to plead and advised the duo to apply for bail at the High Court.
The magistrate remanded the duo in custody to tomorrow.
@pchitumba1
Online Reporter