The ManicaPost
Tanyaradzwa Mujati
Weekender Reporter
TWO Mutare men have ganged up to harass their mother-figure by threatening to stab her with a knife for questioning them about the disappearance of her property and clothes.
Melody Joa last week saw it prudent to seek a protection order against Tawanda Frage and Boldwin Tapulo.
Frage is her nephew while Tapulo is her son.
Joa said Frage should vacate the family house as he is now an adult.
“He is 29 years old and has been misbehaving. He is my sister’s child and I stay with him, but I cannot anymore. If I tell him to vacate my house, he claims to be the legitimate owner of the house.
“He says my father gave him the house, so I am the one who should vacate, yet that is a lie. I have told him on numerous occasions to leave and settle at his own father’s house, but he is refusing.
“I confronted him over the disappearance of my property recently, and he almost stabbed me with a knife. He does not want to be reprimanded,” she said.
Joa also said Frage and Tabulo were disposing her property and used the money to buy drugs.
“The steal my money, plates and clothes. When I ask them they insult me. I questioned Frage about my missing plates and he insulted me using vulgar language. They both do not respect me. I am no longer safe to continue staying with them because of their violent nature,” said Joa.
In response, Frage said when he almost stabbed Joa, he had no intention to do so, but was just threatening her so that she would know her place in the house.
“I didn’t want to stab her. I was only threatening her so that she would stop accusing me of stealing her money and kitchen utensils. She was provocative and shouting at me. I wanted her to behave and to lower her voice, not that I wanted to stab her. I would never do that,” said Frage.
Frage also said he will not leave his grandfather’s house because he was raised there and that is the only place he calls home.
“I have nowhere to go. Where will I start from? I was raised by my grandfather in that house. So ordinarily I am the owner of the house and I will not leave. If she is not comfortable to stay with me there, she should leave,” he said.
Tapulo admitted harassing his mother but denied being on drugs.
“I do not use drugs. She is accusing me of stealing her clothes as I sell things at Sakubva Flea Market, but that is not the case,” said Tapulo.
Mutare magistrate, Ms Purity Gumbo granted the protection order in Joa’s favour.
The order prohibits Tabulo and Frage from harassing, intimidating, insulting, provoking, assaulting, threatening Joa.
It also bars them from disposing of her property.
Ms Gumbo also advised Joa to apply for an eviction order against Frage and Tapulo.
She highlighted that Joa is harbouring criminals in her home.
