The ManicaPost
Melody Vherenaisi
Weekender Reporter
A MUTARE man is threatening to rape his neighbour as punishment for refusing to share with him free seed maize that had been distributed in the area.
This emerged at the Mutare Civil Magistrates’ Court where Chipo Marange was applying for a peace order against her neighbour, Walter Sibiya who defaulted the court hearing.
Mutare magistrate, Mr Xavier Chipato presided over the matter and granted the peace order which is valid for a year.
Marange said she was now living in fear of her life because of Sibiya’s endless rape threats.
She said she knows Sibiya as a neighbour and a relative of her employer.
Marange said she started staying at the house with her two minor girl children last year.
“I have been staying at the house without any incidences.
“Problems started when the headman distributed free seed maize to villagers last year. Sibiya approached me demanding the seed maize I had received on behalf of my employer. He said he wanted to give the seed maize to his mother,” she said.
Marange said she wanted to get authorisation from her employer first and this did not go down well with Sibiya who accused her of being big-headed.
Sibiya threatened to send Marange packing as she was now acting as the landlady at the place.
Marange informed her employer about Sibiya’s threats and was advised to make a police report.
“I did not make a police report that time as I wanted to talk with Sibiya’s mother first and find an amicable solution. My employer insisted so that I could protect myself from Sibiya’s threats,” she said.
Marange said the following day, Sibiya saw her two children at the borehole fetching water and insulted them.
“He told them he wanted to take a bath at the borehole.
“He took off his clothes and took a bath in my children’s presence. After bathing, he approached me and said he wanted to buy three bottles of an illicit brew and consume them before coming back to rape me.
“He said he would chase me after the rape,” said Marange.
She made a police report where she was advised to apply for a peace order against Sibiya.
Mr Chipato ordered Sibiya not to threaten, harass, insult, provoke and approach Marange’s place of residence to disturb her peace.
