Court Grants Protection to Budiriro Mother as Son Accused of Polluting Meals with Human Waste in Rent Dispute
A 40-year-old man from Budiriro landed in court over disturbing claims that he abused his elderly mother and deliberately polluted her meals with waste matter during a heated dispute over rental income.
Joseph Johnson appeared before Harare Civil Court Magistrate Johanna Mukwesha after his 74-year-old mother, Mrs. Doreen Johnson, filed an application accusing him of turning their home into a battleground of threats, intimidation, and emotional abuse.
In her court application, Mrs. Johnson said the dispute began when Joseph, who is unemployed, demanded a share of rent from tenants living in two rooms at their home.
She refused, explaining the funds were set aside for groceries, medical bills, and property upkeep. “That is when my nightmare started,” she said.
She alleged that Joseph responded with aggression — assaulting her repeatedly, shoving her into a cupboard, locking out her other children and threatening to burn down the house if she withheld the rent.
She further alleged that Joseph had been tampering with her meals by using human waste for nearly a month before she caught him in the act. She described the ordeal as deeply traumatic, saying she no longer felt safe in her own home.
Joseph opposed the application, denying most of the allegations. He claimed his mother was confused and being influenced by family members seeking his removal from the property.
While he admitted selling household items, he insisted it was done with her consent. “I cannot be cruel to my own mother. She squandered the money alone. She is old now and thinks she can treat me however she wants,” he said.
The Herald reported that Magistrate Mukwesha ruled in favour of Mrs. Johnson and granted a protection order, barring Joseph from committing further abuse and instructing him not to interfere with his mother, her tenants, or the rental income.
