News / National
Court grants protection order in high-profile domestic dispute
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In a dramatic twist to a widely-followed domestic saga, a Bulawayo magistrate has granted a protection order to prominent businesswoman Ms. Pamela Mwapaura, the owner of Pamela Creations, against her husband, Mr. Kwame Mwemba. Ironically, the ruling comes after Mr. Mwemba initially sought legal action against Ms. Mwapaura on allegations of abuse.
The couple's turbulent relationship became public after Ms. Mwapaura was accused of assaulting and damaging her husband's property. However, Mr. Mwemba later withdrew the charges, citing a family intervention and his desire to avoid seeing the mother of his three children imprisoned.
"I would not want my wife to go to jail. She is the mother of my three kids, and no one forced me to withdraw the case," Mr. Mwemba stated in his affidavit.
Following the withdrawal, Ms. Mwapaura filed a counter-application seeking a protection and eviction order, arguing that she is not legally or customarily married to Mr. Mwemba and claiming that he had never met her parents.
However, Bulawayo magistrate Mr. Shepherd Munjanja ruled that the two are customarily married, advising Ms. Mwapaura to pursue an eviction order through the appropriate legal channels.
In granting the protection order, the magistrate noted undeniable evidence of abuse, supported by pictorial proof, and barred Ms. Mwapaura from stalking Mr. Mwemba for the next five years.
Court documents revealed a pattern of alleged confrontations:
March 2024 Incident: Ms. Mwapaura allegedly followed her husband from the city center to Luveve suburb, where she confronted him after he offered a lift to another woman. During the altercation, Ms. Mwapaura reportedly smashed her husband's Samsung foldable phone, valued at US$1,000.
November 2024 Assault: Eight months later, Ms. Mwapaura allegedly punched her husband multiple times following a disagreement over money and family expenses.
Ms. Mwapaura initially appeared before Magistrate Ms. Nomagugu Maphosa on charges of physical abuse and was remanded out of custody before the case was withdrawn.
The court ruling, granting a protection order while affirming the couple's customary marriage, has added complexity to the case. The magistrate emphasized the need for Ms. Mwapaura to seek legal eviction proceedings, signaling potential further legal battles.
The high-profile nature of the case has sparked public discussions about domestic abuse, the complexities of informal marriages, and the role of legal systems in resolving family disputes.
The couple's turbulent relationship became public after Ms. Mwapaura was accused of assaulting and damaging her husband's property. However, Mr. Mwemba later withdrew the charges, citing a family intervention and his desire to avoid seeing the mother of his three children imprisoned.
"I would not want my wife to go to jail. She is the mother of my three kids, and no one forced me to withdraw the case," Mr. Mwemba stated in his affidavit.
Following the withdrawal, Ms. Mwapaura filed a counter-application seeking a protection and eviction order, arguing that she is not legally or customarily married to Mr. Mwemba and claiming that he had never met her parents.
However, Bulawayo magistrate Mr. Shepherd Munjanja ruled that the two are customarily married, advising Ms. Mwapaura to pursue an eviction order through the appropriate legal channels.
In granting the protection order, the magistrate noted undeniable evidence of abuse, supported by pictorial proof, and barred Ms. Mwapaura from stalking Mr. Mwemba for the next five years.
March 2024 Incident: Ms. Mwapaura allegedly followed her husband from the city center to Luveve suburb, where she confronted him after he offered a lift to another woman. During the altercation, Ms. Mwapaura reportedly smashed her husband's Samsung foldable phone, valued at US$1,000.
November 2024 Assault: Eight months later, Ms. Mwapaura allegedly punched her husband multiple times following a disagreement over money and family expenses.
Ms. Mwapaura initially appeared before Magistrate Ms. Nomagugu Maphosa on charges of physical abuse and was remanded out of custody before the case was withdrawn.
The court ruling, granting a protection order while affirming the couple's customary marriage, has added complexity to the case. The magistrate emphasized the need for Ms. Mwapaura to seek legal eviction proceedings, signaling potential further legal battles.
The high-profile nature of the case has sparked public discussions about domestic abuse, the complexities of informal marriages, and the role of legal systems in resolving family disputes.
Source - The Chronicle
