The Sunday News
Dumani Moyo
A BULAWAYO magistrate last week dressed down a man who tried to challenge the law after he attended his court hearing while visibly drunk.
Magistrate Ms Evelyn Mashavakure reprimanded Mr Charly Mahumba (34), who was dragged by his wife Lilian Mapara to court seeking a protection order against him.
Mr Mahumba, who was smelling of alcohol, told the court that his wife was the one who abused him and the law always ignored men who are victims.
“Your Worship, I am not abusive. It is a pity that the law decides and does not take seriously men who are abused. I have never assaulted her or become violent towards her,” he said.
However, the magistrate challenged him to stop taking alcohol before serious engagements.
“As far as I’m concerned, this is your first time coming into this court. So you cannot say the law or society is inconsiderate towards abuse of men. You also come here drunk and smelling of alcohol. If you want to get drunk, fine go and do it outside the court,” she said.
The magistrate granted the protection order and told Mahumba to stop abusing his wife whenever he gets drunk.
Ms Mapara told the magistrate that his husband comes home at night drunk and assaults her.
“Your Worship, I have been working hard for him and his mother. He insults me in front of the children and my mother-in-law. I have been working very hard for all of them. I do not know why he keeps assaulting me. He even goes for some days without telling me where he is,” she said.
