40 year marriage on the rocks

A NKULUMANE woman who has been married for the past 40 years is seeking a protection order against her husband for allegedly verbally abusing her and preventing her from attending church prayer meetings.

Margaret Sibanda told Bulawayo magistrate Evelyn Mashavakure yesterday that she has had enough of Mabby Zulu's endless ill-treatment that has gone to the extent of her being compelled to ask for permission from him to use household grocery items.

Magistrate Mashavakure referred the couple for counselling and advised them to come back to court on January, 20.

"Your worship, I'm appealing to the court to assist me to bring  peace in my home because I'm suffering from constant harassment and threats of assaults from my husband," said Sibanda.

"I have no freedom at all for the past 40 years of our marriage everything has to be done by force. As the mother of the house I'm not even allowed   to use the groceries in the house l have to ask from him first and he prevents me from going to church."

When Magistrate Mashavuke asked Zulu why he was abusing his wife, he denied the allegations levelled against him.

"I'm shocked about the alleged allegations. I've never abused her in any way and we even attend the same church which has about 2,800 members," said Zulu.

"The fights started last year when l quizzed her over the fact that she goes to church at 4.30 AM. I then told  her that if she wants to go she should  then wake up our three grandchildren and go with them but she refused."

Zulu further told the court that it was unacceptable for his wife to refuse to go with her grandchildren for prayers.