Online Reporter
Fidelis Chavarike
Weekender Reporter
A PENHALONGA woman, Chipo Marange, has been granted a protection order against her ex-husband, Luke Mukono, for allegedly harassing, insulting and driving her away from their marital home in Magarasadza.
The two parties appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms Purity Gumbo recently.
Marange said they officially divorced on April 21, after Mukono accused her of having an extramarital affair.
Since then, she alleged, Mukono has subjected her to a series of harassment and verbal abuse.
“After our divorce, he wanted us to share our matrimonial property, but nothing belongs to him. I own everything, including the stand he is trying to chase us away from.
“I have two children from a previous relationship and he threatens them, claiming he will kill us and wants three bodies to be buried on this stand,” said Marange.
She further alleged that Mukono was absent for some weeks, during which time he was in Mazowe.
Upon his return, he became aggressive, threatening them and forcing them to flee.
As a result, Marange claimed that she was left without shelter, resulting in her children missing school.
She also accused Mukono of destroying part of their house.
Marange further alleged that since Mukono chased her away, they have been staying in separate homesteads.
“He destroyed part of the house while demanding to share our matrimonial property, particularly the house and land. He shouts at me every time we meet and it has been extremely stressful. My children have not been going to school since the beginning of this term because of this obtaining situation,” she added.
Mukono disputed Marange’s account, claiming he was away in Mazowe at the time of the alleged events and accused her of infidelity.
“In April, when I returned from Mazowe where I work, I saw her with a man in our house.
“When they saw me, the man ran away. Upon entering the bedroom, I found a used condom, which led to our divorce. I merely want a place to stay since the house belongs to us. I did not chase her away — she left voluntarily,” he said.
In court, Marange denied the allegations of cheating and maintained that although they built the house together, the stand legally belongs to her and is registered in her name.
“He is lying, Your worship. He has completely turned his back on me.
“I have never been intimate with him from the day he claims to have seen the man in our house. I own the stand, which was allocated to me and my children by the Government after our previous house was destroyed by fire while he was in Mazowe,” she said.
Marange said on the same day Mukono was summoned to appear before the civil court, he approached and asked her to return home.
Ms Gumbo granted the protection order to Marange.
“The court hereby grants a protection order to Chipo Marange. Mukono is ordered to refrain from any further acts of harassment, verbal abuse or intimidation.
“Regarding the dispute over the property and stand, both parties are strongly advised to seek legal counsel to resolve the matter through proper legal channels,” she said.
