Employer drags maid to court for abuse

A Harare woman yesterday told the court that she was being tortured by her maid over her son, whom she claimed impregnated her.

Lydia Kanenungo said Patience Mhofu sometimes verbally and physically abuses her, saying her son was refusing to be intimate with her. Kanenungo made the revelations at the Harare Civil Court where she was seeking a protection order against Mhofu, whom she accused of breaching her peace at her own house.

"I employed her as a maid and even allowed her to come with her baby, but now she is physically abusing me claiming that she was impregnated by my son," she said.

Kanenungo told Harare Civil Court magistrate Babra Masinire that Mhofu was in the habit of verbally abusing her with vulgar words in front of her siblings, saying this was affecting her psychologically.

"I have tried to ask my son about the pregnancy issue, but he is denying ever sleeping with Mhofu and I am now confused," she said.

"Mhofu told her relatives about the pregnancy issue and they are coming at my house insulting and threatening me."

Kanenungo said Mhofu once told her that her son was now refusing to have sexual intercourse with her.

"I want the court to protect me from her because she is making my life difficult at my own house." Kanenungo said.

Mhofu did not show up at the court.

Masinire granted the protection order in default, which barred Mhofu from physically or verbally abusing Kanenungo.