Harare – A Harare Civil Court case took an unexpected turn yesterday when a man successfully obtained a protection order against his wife and children, leading to a dramatic outburst from his daughter.
Forward Mumango won the order, allowing him to evict his entire family from their home to make way for his new lover. The decision sparked emotional scenes within the courtroom, highlighting the deep divisions within the family.
The court heard that Mumango had taken this drastic step because his family was resisting his attempts to bring his new partner into the family home. He claimed he was the victim of abuse at the hands of his wife, Primrose Mumango.
He detailed his grievances to Magistrate Meenal Narotam, stating: “She is so disrespectful and failing to accept my second wife as part of our family. They are making it impossible for me to live in peace with my new wife. I want them out of my house because they don’t want to accept my decision as the father of the house.”
Magistrate Narotam granted Mumango the protection order, a decision that immediately triggered a powerful emotional response from his daughter, Tofara. Overwhelmed with grief and anger, Tofara burst into tears and launched a verbal attack on her father.
Her words echoed the sentiments of many in the courtroom: “How could he do this to my mum? He is just doing this because his girlfriend has manipulated him, he doesn’t care about us. He is punishing us for not accepting his new girlfriend,” she cried out.
Court officials had to intervene to restrain Tofara as her distress escalated.
Primrose Mumango, Forward’s wife, expressed her profound hurt and betrayal. She stated: “He is no longer in his normal senses, he has been manipulated by his girlfriend. I am heartbroken by his decision to seek a protection order against me and his plans to evict our children.”
Her words painted a picture of a family torn apart by a decision that prioritised a new relationship over the existing family unit.
The granted protection order, while legally sound based on Mumango’s testimony, raises questions about the broader implications of such decisions on family dynamics and the potential for long-term emotional damage.
