Online Reporter
Fidelis Chavarike
Weekender Reporter
A WOMAN from Munyarari Village, Primrose Kambanje, appeared before Mutare Civil Court, seeking a protection order against her husband’s nephew, accusing him of allegedly harassing, demanding intimacy and locking her and the children inside their house.
Kambanje and Taurai Kapato appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms Purity Gumbo, where she shared the harrowing details of her trauma.
She disclosed that the mistreatment was persistent, beginning after her husband left for South Africa.
“Taurai should be a son to me according to our tradition since he is my husband’s brother’s son, but I have not been staying in peace due to his uncouth behaviour.
He shouts at, assaults and chases me away from my home. We do not stay in the same household, but we stay close to each other. He comes to my homestead at night and peeps through the windows to see if I am inside. He accuses me of having multiple relationships, and calls me a prostitute in front of my children,” she said.
“He has a tendency of locking us inside the house. He uses a metal bar to lock us in, making it difficult for us to go outside. He recently did it again. He says it is to stop me from going to business centres and engaging in prostitution. He often comes to my house armed with an axe, demanding sex. He sent my husband a voice note claiming to have had sex with me on different occasions,” she recounted.
Kambanje further said Kapato’s actions have caused significant tension and division within the family.
“His behaviour is unacceptable. He has caused serious conflict between me and his wife, who now believes I am having an affair with him. I have informed my in-laws about the matter and was ready to take it to the chief’s court until my husband advised me to seek a protection order instead,” she said.
Kapato disputed Kambanje’s claims, arguing that the two were more than just relatives, and had been in an intimate relationship for months.
“I disagree with everything she says, including her request for a protection order. She might be my mother according to tradition, but she is also my girlfriend. We have been sleeping together since February, which is why she does not get along with my wife. We had a family court session where she told the family that I had proposed love to her and she turned me down, but she knows we have been intimate.”
Kapato went on to explain that they had gone to the clinic for testing after being caught in an intimate relationship with Kambanje.
“When we were caught in June, we all went to Munyarari Clinic to get tested – me, her, my wife and some elderly uncles. She knows the truth, but refuses to admit it. It just happened that we started dating, and I am still in love with her,” he insisted.
While narrating his side of the story, Ms Gumbo asked Kapato if he was mentally challenged due to the way he spoke and appeared.
Kapato clarified that he was, neither mentally disturbed, nor had he ever suffered from mental illness.
Kambanje disputed all of Kapato’s claims and said her visit to the clinic was solely to regain trust from family members.
“When we went to the clinic, I wanted to clear my name because he had infected his wife with an STI. I didn’t go alone, most family members were there and I proved I was not intimate with him. He stalks me and I want him to stop. He even had one of the uncles arrested after we returned from the clinic, claiming he had assaulted him. He is full of lies,” she said.
Ms Gumbo granted the protection order to Kambanje.
“The protection order is hereby granted in favour of Primrose Kambanje. Taurai Kapato is prohibited from harassing, threatening or approaching the applicant in any manner. Both parties are urged to maintain peace and uphold family dignity, given the sensitive nature of their relationship,” she said.
