Woman torn between ex-hubby, parents

A MUTARE woman — Mutembesi Makarawo — filed for a protection order against her ex-husband, Blessing Matidza, accusing him of insulting and assaulting her.

The two appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms Purity Gumbo who refused to grant the protection order.

“Your Worship, my ex-husband and I have been separated for two years. Three weeks ago, he violently assaulted me after discovering a message in my cellphone. The abuse he inflicted on me was so vicious.

“Even during the course of our marriage, his tendency towards violence was a constant source of fear and distress. I cannot continue to live with the threat of his unpredictable and dangerous behaviour. I am here today to seek protection from the court against his relentless aggression,” she said.

Makarawo further alleged that she was staying with her parents together with their two children

“For our safety, I went back to my parents’ house in Gimboki. Leaving my children in his care was simply not an option, given his volatility and propensity for violence. My parents, too, have made it clear that they are fed up with him. He last assaulted me when I was out running a simple errand to get groceries for my family. The abuse has left me feeling terrified and vulnerable, with nowhere else to turn, but the court,” she said.

Responding to the allegations, Matidza argued that the two are still together under the same roof even though they had formally separated.

“Your worship, I oppose this application for a protection order because my ex-wife and I are still in a relationship. She visits my house frequently, even today she was there. While I acknowledge that I assaulted her in the past, but it was not in public like she said. She had come to my house when I saw messages from her ex-boyfriend. I apologised for my behaviour and I am committed to changing my ways.

“I believe that my ex-wife is using this court process as a way of hiding the fact that we are still together from her parents. They no longer approve our relationship,” he said.

Ms Gumbo sternly warned Makarawo against abusing the court process to suit her needs, and threw out her application.

“It appears to me that you are attempting to manipulate the court process to suit your own needs. You say that you are still in a relationship with your ex-husband, yet you are seeking a protection order against him.

“You claimed that he assaulted you, but you continue to visit his house. I think it is quite possible that your actions are motivated by your desire to keep your relationship with your ex-husband hidden from your family,” she said as she turned down the application.