Zimpapers Logo

Ivan Zhakata Court Reporter
Zvimba East Member of Parliament Francis Mukwangwariwa was yesterday hauled before the Harare Civil Court by his former lover who claimed he abused her for terminating their relation- ship.

Sandra Chitauro, through her lawyer, Anesu Bangidza from Tavenhave and Machingauta Legal Practitioners, alleges that she terminated her affair with Mukwangwariwa after he was caught with a girlfriend in Highfield, Harare, a matter which was reported in the local media.

Chitauro, who was seeking a protection order against the legislator, told magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa that since she dumped him, Mukwangwariwa had been assaulting and abusing her.

She said the lawmaker threatened her with unknown action bragging about his alleged relationship with President Mugabe, saying nothing would befall him.

“He is refusing to terminate the affair and threatens me with unspecified action saying nothing would happen to him because he is related to the President of Zimbabwe. He haunts, threatens and abuses my brother, sister and brother-in-law and he cannot be called honourable at all.

“He also assaults me but we were not married. We were cohabiting for eight years. He insults me and has made chronic utterances where he drops the name of the biggest office in the land to abuse me. At some point I had to engage our relatives to solve the dispute but to no avail,” she said.

Chitauro also told the court that she gave Mukwangwariwa a divorce token as per the customary law, but he keeps on abusing her.

Mukwangwariwa refuted the allegations. “This is a bare allegation and if it held any water then applicant would have furnished further details relating to the date and place where such occurred or would have at least explained how I abused her or what words I used to threaten her,” he said.

“In any event, if I had abused her, surely she would have reported to the police at some point but it is clear from her application that she is not in a position to provide a police report case number or the name of an investigating officer to that effect because the alleged abuse never occurred.

“The applicant is merely stating my relationship with the President in order to gain ground but at no point have I ever used that or even apprehended it to be a status that places me above the law.

“I am an honourable Member of Parliament who has sworn to abide by the Constitution and who fully understands that no one is above the law,” Mukwangwariwa said.

Mrs Gofa postponed the matter to today for ruling.