The Sunday News
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
A GWANDA woman has applied for a peace order against her mother-in-law claiming that she was in the habit of harassing her in a bid to force her to leave her matrimonial home.
Mrs Catherine Nkala (40) of Gwakwe Village said her 92-year-old mother-in-law, Elizabeth Nkala who stays with her in the same yard was in the habit of insulting her in full view of her children.
She said Elizabeth was also trying to evict her from her matrimonial home so that her husband’s girlfriend could come and stay there as she supported their affair.
“I stay in the same yard with my mother-in-law but we have separate homesteads. She is constantly insulting me in full view of my children and at times she calls me a prostitute. She has also turned my husband’s brothers against me so that they chase me from my homestead.
“She even encourages my husband’s girlfriend to come and stay with her. She is also threatening to evict me from my homestead so that this girlfriend can replace me. My mother-in-law is claiming ownership of the homestead I stay in yet it is mine,” said Mrs Nkala.
She begged the court to warn her mother- in-law against harassing her or evicting her from her homestead.
In her response, Elizabeth said she was the one who built the homestead in question and allocated some of the huts to Mrs Nkala and her children.
She said there was no way that she could pick a fight with Mrs Nkala at her age.
She said her daughter-in-law was just bitter as her husband had separated with her and was now staying with another woman.
“The claims that Catherine is making are unfounded. There is no way I could pick a fight with her as old as I am. The alleged girlfriend that she says I’m supporting is someone who was hired to look after me as I’m now old. Catherine is making life difficult for me at my homestead which has forced me to apply for an eviction order against her. To resolve the altercations, it’s best that she moves out of my homestead. I however, don’t oppose granting of the peace order,” said Elizabeth.
Presiding over the matter Gwanda magistrate, Mr Obedience Matare issued a peace order that is binding to both parties. He ordered Mrs Nkala and Elizabeth to observe peace between one another and desist from insulting, harassing or visiting one another.
Elizabeth recently applied for an eviction order against Mrs Nkala claiming that she was refusing to vacate her homestead after separating with her son.
In her application Elizabeth said she had allowed her son and his family to stay at her homestead temporarily while they looked for a home of their own but Mrs Nkala was refusing to leave.
The matter is set to be heard at the Gwanda Civil Court.
@DubeMatutu
