Online Reporter
Spiwe Sarakunze-Herald Reporter
A Harare Civil Court magistrate, Ms Meenal Narotam, has granted a protection order in favour of a woman who sued her sister for publicly disclosing her health status without her consent.
Ms Chido Mangirazi accused her sister, Ms Diana Mangirazi, of repeatedly revealing to neighbours and colleagues that she is living with HIV, causing significant distress and harm to her personal and professional life.
“Everyone in our neighborhood knows about my condition because my sister told them,” Chido testified in court.
“She even went to my workplace and warned people not to interact with me, claiming I could infect them.”
Chido further explained that her boyfriend contemplated ending their relationship because of the public stigma caused by her sister’s actions.
She alleged that her sister’s motivations stemmed from jealous as Diana also had romantic feelings for her boyfriend.
“She wants to tarnish my reputation so she can pursue my boyfriend,” Chido alleged.
Chido also accused Diana of threatening to harm her when she refused to return to commercial sex work.
“I left that life behind to focus on my current job but my sister continues to harass me trying to force me back into it,” she said tearfully.
Chido claimed Diana frequently comes to her home causing disturbances and making violent threats.
“She has promised to make my life miserable until I rejoin her,” she added.
Diana denied the accusations saying she was the victim.
“My sister is the one threatening me,” she said.
“She lost many boyfriends because of her health status and now she’s fabricating stories to ruin my reputation.”
Diana also argued that she had been supporting Chido financially despite her decision to leave commercial sex work and claimed she had no intention of forcing her sister to return to it.
After hearing both testimonies, Ms Narotam ruled in favour of Chido and granted her the protection order against Diana.
The magistrate warned Diana to stop disclosing her sister’s health status and to cease all forms of harassment.
Peter Tanyanyiwa