A Harare man, Leon Kamupopa, is facing accusations of stalking and threatening his neighbour, Kudzanai Mutemwa, after impregnating Mutemwa’s wife. The case unfolded in the Harare Civil Court where Mutemwa sought a peace order against Kamupopa, alleging a pattern of harassment and intimidation.
Mutemwa detailed Kamupopa’s actions to the court: “He has been having an affair with my wife for some time now. When I confronted him about it, he became violent. He hired bouncers to attack me and I decided to take the matter to the chief’s court, however, he continues to attack me.” The affair, already a source of considerable distress, escalated into physical threats and alleged violence.
Kamupopa, however, presented a different version of events, denying Mutemwa’s accusations. He claimed that following a resolution of the initial dispute at the chief’s court, Mutemwa had been demanding compensation from him: “After our case was resolved by the chief, he has been sending messages demanding that I pay him US$150 for his wife’s abortion. He said I should pay the money within five days and, if I fail to do so, he would attack me.”
This counter-claim directly contradicts Mutemwa’s account of the events.
Mutemwa vehemently denied Kamupopa’s assertion that he was demanding money. The conflicting accounts presented to the court highlight the deeply fractured relationship between the two men.
Presiding Magistrate Meenal Naratom, having heard both sides of the story, granted Mutemwa a peace order against Kamupopa.
The magistrate’s ruling clearly aimed to prevent further escalation of the conflict: “I will not tolerate any form of violence or intimidation in this matter. Both parties must respect the rule of law and resolve their differences peacefully” the magistrate said.
