Residents want suspected 'prostitute' driven out of suburb

RESIDENTS of Newton West in Bulawayo are lobbying for the eviction of a woman from the area whom they suspect to be a prostitute who has wrecked many families and abuses her children.

The woman at the centre of the controversy, Ms Matilda Moyo popularly known as Mai Chiedza in the neighbourhood has, however, dismissed the allegations saying local women were jealous of her because she worked hard to fend for her family.

Residents who spoke to the Sunday News said the woman had been causing a lot of problems as she was in the habit of sleeping with married men from the same neighbourhood.

"The problem with Mai Chiedza is that she sleeps with men from this area and they are married men for that matter. This has angered many women to the extent that they want her out," said one resident who refused to be named.

She alleged that Mai Chiedza had a love potion to attract men.

The residents said she was a prominent figure at a local supermarket where she ‘fishes' for clients. She also sells vegetables at the shopping centre.

The residents also said Mai Chiedza had children of school going age but they were not attending school and had no birth certificates.

"She has children who have never set foot in a school but they are way past school going age and we do not know the reason why they are not in school. The worst part is that her female children have also joined her trade and we fear for their future," said one resident.

It is also alleged that her husband was a victim of abuse but was scared to report to the police as he feared he would be beaten.

Residents said the husband, Mr Philip Sithole was last month bedridden after a thorough beating from Mai Chiedza and was away from work for a month as he was nursing wounds and couldn't walk.

When Sunday News visited Mai Chiedza at her lodgings in Oregon Avenue, she was with her husband and vehemently denied the allegations accusing some people of being jealous.

"People are just jealous of me and the work of my hands, I have a stall at the supermarket and people are not happy seeing me there. Again, the men around here are silly, they do not use their brains," she said.

Asked on what she meant that men did not ‘think' she said they said she was a prostitute.

"Mina ngithengisa amatamatisi ami kodwa amadoda ngapha acabanga ukuthi ngithengisa konke lomzimba so ngicina ngibatshaya mina.

Omunye kakasili ngamtshaya ngembodlela. I have a five-year ban on public fighting from Donnington Police Station because I can really beat up people," said Mai Chiedza with pride.

She said women in Newton West were not industrious and they spent their day getting their hair done instead of working like her.

Asked on why her children were not attending school she gave conflicting statements.

Initially she said her children were enrolled at Hlekweni Vocational Training Centre and later she said she had enrolled them at a special class at Montrose Girls High School where the vulnerable were said to be attending classes.

"Abami bafunda e Montrose, we were told to bring our children who cannot afford to pay school fees and are not in school so they will start soon," she said.

Another female resident from Newton West said they once formed a society to pay money each month to assist her.

"We had a club where she would get some money to assist her in paying school fees for her children but she squandered the money and opted out. So we cannot find other options to assist her as she is just interested in prostitution and beer," added one woman.

However, Mr Sithole, the husband to Mai Chiedza said people were just jealous of his wife as she was an industrious woman.