Harare Civil Court Issues Protection Order to Shield Mother from Abuse
HARARE – The Harare Civil Court has granted a protection order in favour of Ms. Lydia Sibanda, who sought legal intervention to stop the alleged abuse by her son, Nyasha Manyenga.
In her testimony before Magistrate Meenal Narotam, Ms. Sibanda accused Manyenga of verbal and physical abuse, which forced her to leave her home and seek refuge in a squatter camp.
She further claimed that her son often called her a witch, saying, “He viciously blames me for his troubles and maliciously accuses me of witchcraft, leaving me in a state of sheer terror and hopelessness”.
Additionally, she described how Manyenga frequently sold household items, including clothes, mats, plates and curtains, to fund his alcohol consumption.
“There is barely anything left in my home, he has taken and sold even the most basic items,” she said in frustration.
However, Manyenga denied forcing his mother out but admitted to selling the curtains, explaining that he was desperate after being unemployed for seven months.
Having weighed the arguments from both parties, Magistrate Narotam ultimately ruled in Ms. Sibanda’s favour.
The protection order bars Manyenga from engaging in any form of abuse against his mother and prevents him from taking actions that might result in her displacement from her home again.
The court’s decision is seen as a step toward ensuring Ms. Sibanda’s safety and restoring stability to her living conditions.
