Man desires to have ten children

IN a bid to justify abusing his wife, a Mutare man said their bone of contention was his desire to have 10 children, something his wife was totally against.

Takudzwa Chihota and Dadirai Nemakonde appeared at Mutare Civil Court on Monday, with the latter seeking a protection order.

Nemakonde is Chihota's first wife and the two have four children.

In response to Nemakonde's application where she cited abuse as one of the reasons why she was applying for a protection order against him, Chihota admitted abusing his wife.

manica Post reported that he cited the reason that his wife was against his decision of having more children. He told the court that he wanted 10 children and had so far sired seven children. Chihota forced his wife to have a loop inserted on her removed.

"I admit that I have been abusing her after she refused to have more children. She is my first wife and she has four children and now I want her to have the fifth one as I am still waiting for my other wife's third born to grow a bit before she has a fourth one. I never thought this would end up in the courts since this is something I believe is her duty as a woman and wife," he said.

The presiding magistrate, Mrs Annie Ndiraya told him that his argument was not a justification to abuse his wife.

She went on to ask Nemakonde if she was prepared to have more children, but she replied in the negative.

Nemakonde said: "I already have four children and his other wife only has three. I think amainini should bear him more children. I am no longer willing to have more children because he is irresponsible.

"More children mean he will have more burdens which is a risk I am not willing to take. The other wife is still able and willing and as such she can bear the other three children to make them 10.

"This is the reason she has been abusing me to the extent of forcing me to have my loop removed. This is unreasonable. It is against such that I pray for a protection order," she submitted.

The protection order was granted and Chihota was refrained from abusing her physically and verbally. He was also barred from using force to get his conjugal rights.