Online Reporter
Spiwe Sarakunze
Herald Reporter
A HARARE man has been granted a peace order after he was assaulted by his landlord for allegedly proposing love to married women, including his landlady.
The case came before Magistrate Johanna Mukwesha, where Tavengwa Shiko accused his landlady, Memory Chinyanganya, and her husband of harassment and violence following a confrontation at their home.
Shiko, who is alleged to be infamous for making advances towards married women, told the court that his landlord attacked him after hearing that he had proposed love to Chinyanganya.
“The man beat me until I cried for help. He accused me of disrespecting his marriage and violating his household. I am now living in fear because he said if I ever try to greet his wife again, he will kill me,” Shiko testified.
He further claimed that his landlady had been insulting him, spreading rumours to tarnish his image, and accusing him of inappropriate behaviour towards her daughter.
Shiko argued that he was being unfairly targeted because Chinyanganya sought to evict him.
“I have no peace at the house. Everyone is bad-mouthing and disrespecting me. I was assaulted badly, yet I am innocent,” he said.
Chinyanganya, however, stood by her actions.
She told the court that Shiko had crossed a line by proposing love to her in her own yard.
“This man is a troublemaker in our neighbourhood, especially at my house. He is known for going after married women, and I had been warned about him several times. For him to stand in my own yard and propose love to me was disrespectful,” she said.
She admitted informing her husband about the incident, saying he disciplined Shiko “as any jealous husband would do.”
Chinyanganya added that Shiko had caused tension in many families.
“We gave him notice to leave our house last month, but he is refusing to go. He goes from house to house targeting married women. Many couples have fought because of him,” she lamented.
Despite these accusations, Shiko maintained that his rights had been violated through assault, insults and harassment, and pleaded for a peace order to protect him from further victimisation.
In her ruling, Magistrate Mukwesha acknowledged that while proposing love was not in itself a crime, deliberately targeting married women was provocative and disrespectful.
She warned Shiko to change his behaviour but also cautioned Chinyanganya that assault was not a lawful way to resolve disputes.
The court granted a peace order in Shiko’s favour, barring Chinyanganya from insulting, assaulting or harassing him.
Online Reporter