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Betting addict's marriage hits rock bottom
06 Jun 2025 at 15:33hrs | Views
A Harare man's obsession with betting has driven a deep wedge in his marriage, culminating in a fiery courtroom showdown where both partners accused each other of abuse and infidelity.
Jeremiah Mutuso appeared at the Harare Civil Court on Thursday seeking a protection order against his wife, Patience Kapasi, claiming he had been reduced to "a zombie" in his own home due to her alleged affair and controlling behaviour.
But Patience fired back, telling the court that Jeremiah is a chronic gambler who refuses to work and spends his days betting on anything from football to snooker and even card games.
"He is into betting and his addiction is out of this world," Patience told the court. "He doesn't want to work. All he does is wake up and bet on anything, including soccer and cards. His own brother has warned him, but he won't stop."
She denied claims of infidelity and said Jeremiah becomes abusive whenever she confronts him about his gambling. "He insults me in public and has even been reported to the police."
However, Jeremiah painted a different picture, accusing Patience of turning their home into a battleground. He told magistrate Johanna Mukwesha that she had brought another man into their house and expected him to live under those conditions.
"She told me she no longer loves me after I caught her red-handed with another man in our house," said Mutuso. "Each time I raise the issue, she reports me to her boyfriend, and they team up to beat me."
He alleged that Patience controls his every move, even preventing him from socialising with friends. "If I go out without her approval, her boyfriend beats me up," he said, adding that he was once assaulted in front of his friends while watching a football match.
"I can't share my wife with another man," Jeremiah said emotionally. "She should move out and stop harassing me."
After hearing both sides of the dramatic dispute, magistrate Mukwesha dismissed Jeremiah's application for a protection order, citing a lack of merit.
The couple's future remains uncertain, with both parties refusing to back down from their accusations and grievances.
Jeremiah Mutuso appeared at the Harare Civil Court on Thursday seeking a protection order against his wife, Patience Kapasi, claiming he had been reduced to "a zombie" in his own home due to her alleged affair and controlling behaviour.
But Patience fired back, telling the court that Jeremiah is a chronic gambler who refuses to work and spends his days betting on anything from football to snooker and even card games.
"He is into betting and his addiction is out of this world," Patience told the court. "He doesn't want to work. All he does is wake up and bet on anything, including soccer and cards. His own brother has warned him, but he won't stop."
She denied claims of infidelity and said Jeremiah becomes abusive whenever she confronts him about his gambling. "He insults me in public and has even been reported to the police."
"She told me she no longer loves me after I caught her red-handed with another man in our house," said Mutuso. "Each time I raise the issue, she reports me to her boyfriend, and they team up to beat me."
He alleged that Patience controls his every move, even preventing him from socialising with friends. "If I go out without her approval, her boyfriend beats me up," he said, adding that he was once assaulted in front of his friends while watching a football match.
"I can't share my wife with another man," Jeremiah said emotionally. "She should move out and stop harassing me."
After hearing both sides of the dramatic dispute, magistrate Mukwesha dismissed Jeremiah's application for a protection order, citing a lack of merit.
The couple's future remains uncertain, with both parties refusing to back down from their accusations and grievances.
Source - H-Metro
