A BULAWAYO man has allegedly been forcing his wife of 28 years and their five children to sleep next door so as to make way for his girlfriend. As if that is not enough, Beatwell Nyathi has also been beating his wife, Florence Mlilo, who has since applied for a protection order from her husband. According to Mlilo, Nyathi, a Bulawayo City Council cleaner at Zulukandaba Primary School, has since brought his girlfriend into their matrimonial home.
Nyathi and Mlilo appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Miss Evelyn Mashavakure.
Mlilo told the court that she has been married to Nyathi since 1987 and they have five children.
“Your Worship, two of our children are minors and I live with them in our rural home, while my husband stays in our house in Makokoba but now he has a girlfriend. Whenever I come to visit with the children, my husband chases us out of the house, insults us, and sometimes assaults me,” she said.
“He chases me out while he lets his girlfriend stay at our house. He has been abusing me since 2004. The incident last occurred on 1 July where my husband chased me out of the house and verbally abused me resulting in me sleeping next door, while he enjoys with his girlfriend.”
Mlilo stated that the conduct of her husband was disturbing her peace and that of her children.
“I have been embarrassed enough. I pray that my husband be ordered not to chase me out of the house, not to insult me, and that woman who now stays in our house be ordered to leave,” said Mlilo.
Nyathi, however, denied the allegations and told the court that the woman his wife was referring to was actually not his girlfriend but his second wife.
“Madam, these are my two wives. I actually married them at the same time. It is not true that I am denying my wife access to the house, instead she leaves on her own,” he said.
Miss Mashavakure granted Mlilo the protection order and Nyathi was barred from harassing, assaulting and insulting her.
“If what your wife has said is true that you are harassing her. I urge you to desist from such practice. You are ordered to keep peace with your wife. You are not supposed to emotionally, physically and verbally abuse her.
“Lastly, I’m referring you and your wife for counselling,” said Miss Mashavakure.