Apostolic sect leader bashes wife over HIV status

A woman in Harare experienced a miscarriage after being physically assaulted by her husband, who is a leader in an apostolic sect, upon learning that she had not disclosed her HIV status to him. This information came to light during proceedings at the Harare Civil Court, where Tarisai Kapuya was seeking a protection order against her husband, Worship Muranda.

Kapuya explained, "We had an argument after I fell sick, and he began physically abusing me, beating me to the extent that I suffered a miscarriage. I have always been subjected to abuse because he has three other wives, but the abuse has escalated now, and he threatens to kill me. He is an apostolic leader at his church, where he humiliates me in front of his congregation. I am a teacher, and he compels me to hand over my salary to him, or else he will prevent me from going to work."

Muranda refuted the allegations, accusing his wife of engaging in extramarital affairs and concealing her HIV status from him. He stated, "She was diagnosed as HIV-positive when we visited the clinic together for a check-up, and I confronted her. I do not abuse her, but I noticed that she receives calls from several men at her workplace, so I stopped her from going to work."

Magistrate Sharon Mashavira granted Kapuya's request for a protection order.