Wife starves HIV+ hubby

An HIV-positive man yesterday told the Harare Civil Court that his abusive wife forced him to sleep undressed every night during the just-ended winter season despite telling her that he was feeling cold.

Tawanda Mhonda said his wife, Philia Muchareva, was refusing to cook for him and switched off the stove if he tried to cook for himself.

Mhonda was seeking a protection order against Muchareva whom he said was making his life unbearable.

Mhonda told Harare Civil Court magistrate Ms Babra Masinire that Muchareva was in the habit of forcing him to bath in cold water even when it's cold.

Mhonda pleaded with Ms Masinire to grant him the protection order, saying he had suffered a lot.

Muchareva denied the allegations and accused Mhonda of infecting her with HIV.

Ms Masinire granted the protection order in Mhonda's favour which bars Muchareva from physically or verbally abusing him.

She also urged the couple to preserve peace towards each other.

"He is chasing me out of our matrimonial home for no clear reason yet he knows that he is the one who infected me with HIV," she said.

Muchareva said she was not going to leave her matrimonial home because Mhonda had already ruined her life by infecting her with HIV.

Ms Masinire granted the protection order in Mhonda's favour which barred Muchareva from physically or verbally abusing him.

She also urged the couple to preserve peace towards each other.