In a dramatic courtroom scene in Harare, a man took legal action to reclaim his lobola money following a contentious clash with his wife.
The case was presented before Magistrate Meenal Naratom at the Harare Civil Court, where Elleine Mbende sought a protection order against her estranged husband, Clive Mabhurange.
Elleine’s testimony painted a picture of distressing harassment.
She accused Clive of incessantly stalking her, including checking with her sisters to see if she was at home, and disrupting her work life. “He follows me everywhere, even to my workplace, and his actions have made my life unbearable,” she said. Elleine also claimed that their personal issues had become common gossip in their Belvedere neighborhood.
ALSO READ: Bulawayo family dumps home after invisible things throw stones
According to Elleine, Clive’s grievances were compounded by personal insults and baseless accusations. “He has criticized me, saying I’m not as satisfying in bed as his girlfriend. He even accused me of lying about our children’s paternity, and shockingly, claimed I sleep with my father,” Elleine revealed.
Clive, however, presented a different narrative in his defense. He argued that despite their marital problems, they were still legally married.
“I want my lobola back because Elleine cheated on me and fled to her parents’ home,” he argued. “I need the money to cover the divorce fees and move on. I have seen messages from her boyfriend on her phone, which confirmed my suspicions. I only want custody of my children.”
After hearing both sides, Magistrate Naratom ruled in favor of Elleine, granting her the protection order she sought.
