Nightclub bouncer storms out of court

A bouncer at a Bulawayo nightclub had a heated exchange with a magistrate and left the dock in a huff before a ruling was made.

The man however, had the last laugh as she ordered prison officials to detain him in cells until he revised his manners.

He was detained from about 9AM until 1PM when the magistrate ordered his release.

It was a completely reformed Edwin Taruvinga (38), the bouncer, who later returned to the dock.

He pleaded with the court to forgive him for the outburst, saying he thought magistrate Tancy Dube had asked him to stand down.

Dube upheld the earlier ruling that had sparked Taruvinga's tantrum, ordering to pay his ex-wife, Nyadzai Loice Chacha an amount of $150 as monetary relief for the upkeep of the couple's children.

Taruvinga was appearing in court following an application by his ex-wife for a protection order.

In her affidavit, Chacha, who is a flea market trader, said: "Edwin, who is my ex-husband, is in the habit of visiting my home and harassing me. We separated in September 2013, but the respondent continues to physically abuse me and threatens me. He is very violent and recently he came and took my household property without my consent.

"I am therefore applying to the court for a protection order because I am now living in fear because of his threats."

Chacha told the court that her ex-husband was no longer giving her money for the upkeep of their two children aged five and nine months.

"I want the court to order the applicant to give me $150 per month for school fees and daily upkeep of our children and he should also stop coming to my house and workplace," she said.

In her ruling, Dube granted Chacha an interim protection order.

"The respondent should stop insulting and physically abusing the applicant as well as issuing threats and visiting her at home and work.

He should also pay the monetary relief of $150 per month for the upkeep of his children for six months after which the applicant can then open a proper maintenance case against the applicant," said the magistrate.