Abusive boyfriend dragged to court

A Harare woman yesterday brought her drug addicted live-in boyfriend to court seeking to evict him from her house.

Sifasonke Mapfumo made a protection order application against Byron Damba whom she said threatened

her with a knife on several occasions. Mapfumo told the court that Damba was a drug addict.

"This man assaults me and my child to the extent that my son pleaded with me to do something about him," said Mapfumo.

"He shouts vulgar words at me, calling me a prostitute before my tenants to the extent that I am now ashamed."

Mapfumo told the court that she had to call a pastor to talk to Damba, but he ended up insulting the pastor, chasing him while wielding a knife.

But Damba told the court that he was shocked to learn that Mapfumo was referring to him as her boyfriend.

"I sent money to her parents to notify them that we are staying together.

"How can she say we are a boyfriend and girlfriend after we have spent six years together. It's only that I don't have the money to pay lobola, but our parents know that we stay together," he said.

"I am her husband."

Magistrate Tatenda Manhanzva pointed out to Damba that they were cohabiting with Mapfumo because the money he sent to her parents was not lobola.

Magistrate Manhanzva proceeded to ask a man in the gallery if indeed the money sent by Damba was lobola according to the Shona culture, to which the man said it was not.

Damba said he was prepared to move out if he found alternative accommodation.

"If she wants me out it's fine, but I need time to find a place to go," he said.

"I cannot move out and go into the streets. After all, she wasted my time."

Magistrate Manhanzva ordered Damba to stop verbally abusing Mapfumo or threatening her.

She advised Mapfumo to make a proper application to evict Damba.