Teacher in court over romantic text messages

A 30-year-old Bulawayo-based teacher could not swallow the bitter pill of being dumped by his girlfriend! So he continued sending her romantic text messages hoping to woo her back but ended up in court for it.

Fed up with a barrage of romantic texts from Roderick Richards, a teacher by profession, Nonhlanhla Nyoni, 27, of Nkulumane who is also a teacher, sought a court order against her ex-boyfriend.

Western Commonage magistrate Temba Chimiso heard how Richards irritated his ex-girlfriend by phoning her and sending romantic text messages.

In her affidavit, Nyoni said: "Roderick Richards is my ex-boyfriend and we ended our affair in April 2013. However, since that time he has been emotionally tormenting me and burdening my cellphone with romantic smses and calling me declaring that he still loves me.

"He is forcing himself on me yet I no longer have feelings for him whatsoever.  I am appealing to the honourable court to grant me a peace order against the respondent because I feel he is a threat to my new romantic life. I don't want the respondent to talk to me whenever we meet."

When the magistrate asked Richards why he continued pestering the respondent, he replied: "Your worship I still have feelings for this woman, which is why I have been sending her texts hoping that she would change her heart."

The magistrate responded: "When a woman doesn't seem to love you anymore you just have to respect their decision and let go."
Chimiso subsequently granted Nyoni a protection order confirmed by consent by both parties.