The ManicaPost
Tanyaradzwa Mujati
Weekender Reporter
AN abusive Mutare man who could not fathom being ditched by his wife of 20 years stabbed her with a knife after she had threatened to leave him.
Having realised that the woman had applied for a protection order against him, the man allegedly drank an unknown poison to avoid appearing before the court.
This emerged at the Mutare Magistrates Civil Court last week where Dorcas Mutepa was applying for a protection order against her husband, Brighton Machiri who was in default.
Machiri was admitted in hospital after consuming an unknown poison earlier that morning to avoid the court appearance.
However, his antics failed to save him as the court granted the protection order.
Mutepa said her husband always assaults her.
She further stated that Machiri’s first three marriages also failed because of his violent tendencies.
“He believes in violence. He beats me whenever he feels like doing so. I have endured this for a long time, but cannot bear it anymore. However, the thought of raising my children alone without their father or my children blaming me for leaving their father keeps me in the marriage,” said Mutepa.
She added: “I am his fourth wife. The other three women left him because of the same inhuman treatment that I am being subjected to. I am begging the court to help me as I might die at his hands. I do not want him to set foot at our house. He should leave us in peace and find alternative accommodation.”
Mutepa said on April 13, Machiri stabbed her with a knife on the ear.
“We had a misunderstanding at home on April 13. He saw some messages in my phone and thought that I was being unfaithful. He severely assaulted me. I have scars all over my body from his endless beatings. He stabbed me on the ear and I sustained a deep cut, but thank God, I managed to survive. Every misunderstanding results in my bashing. I am tired and deserve peace in my life Your Worship,” said Mutepa.
“I reported the matter to the police and he was arrested. He was remanded in custody, but guilty conscience overcame me and I dropped the charges. It is better for him to be out of prison and work for his children,” she added.
Mutepa said when she applied for the protection order, Machiri refused to sign the summons.
Mutepa said: “When I gave him the summons to sign, he refused and threatened me with unknown consequences. He only signed the summons last night amid threats to assault me. I didn’t sleep the whole night fearing for my life. He was brandishing a knife in his hand.
“I do not want to continue staying with him, but I have nowhere to go. He did not pay my bride price, but gave my parents a token to show that he is the one who is co-habiting with me,” she added.
Mutepa said during the morning of their scheduled court appearance, Machiri woke up and consumed poison.
“Early this morning, he went out and came back holding a bottle with an unknown poison. He drank the poison in my presence. At first I thought he was acting up, but within minutes he started groaning in agony. I had to rush to buy milk to induce vomiting, while my children rushed to neighbours to get transport to rush him to hospital.
“Fortunately, the poison was not potent and he survived. He could have easily lost his life and I could have been blamed for his death. I cannot continue going through this torture. He could not make it to court today because he is still admitted in hospital. I think he does not want to lose me, a reason why he is resorting to suicide. He claims to be untouchable, a reason why he abuses me. However, I am fed up,” said Mutepa.
Mutare magistrate, Mr Xavier Chipato granted the protection order which bared Machiri from assaulting, intimidating, threatening, insulting and harassing her.
The protection order is valid for five years.
