Moffat Mungazi
Tinashe Mlambo
Weekender Reporter
A SAKUBVA woman wept in court as her nephew denied the theft allegations she was levelling against him.
Mavis Mundiringe and Arnold Magunde appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Xavier Chipato, with the former applying for a protection order.
Mr Chipato granted the protection order.
‘’My nephew has been stealing from me for the past seven years. I recently left him at the farm in Nyazura, and after a month, he called me saying one of the cattle was missing. I suspected that he had connived with someone to sell it.
“I went to the farm with the police. He was arrested, but guilty conscience got the better of me, and I withdrew the charges against him. He was released from remand prison.
“Barely a week after his release, he stole a neighbour’s laptop. I pleaded with the neighbour for an out of court settlement.
“Since he is not changing from his wayward behaviour, I was left with no option, but to evict him from my house. I told him several times to vacate my premises, but he refused, claiming that since his parents left him with me, he did not have anywhere to go.
“I have tried my best as a guardian and aunt to give him a proper upbringing with no joy, a reason why I am here applying for a protection order against Arnold. I have asked other relatives to at least give him a place to stay, but they also know his behaviour and refused. No one is willing to help him. I will give him some money to find alternative accommodation. I will also give him some money to start a business because he is a graduate. He does not want to be a civil servant because he feels he is too smart to work for the Government,” said Mundiringe.
Responding to the allegations, Magunde denied ever stealing from his aunt.
‘’I am shocked that you are still insisting that I stole your cattle. I have nothing to do with the disappearance of your cattle, but you have decided to give me a deaf ear. What bothers me most is that you have succeeded in ruining my reputation.
“I am now a regular customer at the police station because you always accuse me of stealing your property.
“We have been staying together for the past five years, and no single day passes without you accusing me of something.
“ I just tolerate you because I have nowhere to go. If my parents were alive, I would have been staying with them. The cattle you claim I have been stealing belong to my late father. I will not object to leaving your house, but you just have to surrender all my father’s properties to me.
“I am a law abiding citizen, but you do not appreciate all the help I have been giving you. Your own children do not visit you because you also accuse them of a lot of things,” charged Magunde.
In his ruling, Mr Chipato said: ‘’I hereby grant the protection order, and it will last for five years. You are ordered to stay away from the plaintiff’s premises and properties. I advise you to stop the behaviour of stealing, and focus more on getting yourself a job or start a business like what your aunt has suggested.”
