The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A DRUNKARD Mutare woman who has allegedly been emotionally and physically abusing her live-in boyfriend over the non-payment of her bride price has appeared before the Mutare Civil Court.
The couple appeared before Mr Xavier Chipato with Prudence Mumhazha applying for a protection order against Russell Rakatsinza.
However, during the hearing, Rakatsinza said his union with his live-in girlfriend, Prudence Mumhazha, is now a living hell.
He said each time when Mumhazha and her friends have one too many, she harasses him, asking why he is taking long to pay lobola.
He said on countless occasions, he had set up appointments for the two to undergo counselling with pastors and doctors, but she never shows up.
“Whenever she is drunk, she demands that I pay her lobola. Each time I tell her how her uncouth behaviour is affecting our relationship, she tells me off,” he said.
“Your Worship, how can I marry someone who does this? She and her friends were working at a hotel in Vumba and they were fired for having affairs with clients. She has also blocked me on her phone. I cannot marry someone like that,” he said.
Rakatsinza said due to the harassments from Mumhazha and her friends, he had collected all his clothes and left the house he shares with Mumhazha to find alternative accommodation.
“She is staying at my rented house. I cannot kick her out because she is violent. She brings her lovers there while I watch from across the road, but I cannot do anything about it. Her friends are a bad influence, but she does not listen to me,” he said.
However, Mumhazha told the court that Rakatsinza is her ex-boyfriend who is disturbing her peace by stalking her.
She said they parted ways after Rakatsinza had failed to pay her lobola.
Mumhazha begged for an order that bars Rakatsinza from assaulting, insulting, harassing and threatening her.
“He should be stopped from texting or calling me. I do not want anything to do with him anymore. He also wants me to be evicted and should be stopped from doing that.
“He also calls married women and tells them that I am cheating with their husbands. He also tarnishes my image by spreading falsehoods about me in the area. We have not been staying together for two months now and he should just move on as I have moved on,” she said.
She also disputed Rakatsinza’s claims that she and her friends harass him.
Mr Chipato granted the protection order in Mumhazha’s favour.
The order will be valid for five years.
It bars Rakatsinza from disturbing Mumhazha’s peace.
