Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Peter Matika, peter.matika@chronicle.co.zw
A prominent Bulawayo businesswoman, Pamela Mwapaura, has taken legal action against her husband, Kwame Mwemba, seeking a protection and eviction order. This comes after Mwapaura, who was previously accused of assault and property damage, managed to have the charges dropped when her husband withdrew his complaint.
Mr Mwemba stated in the affidavit that he decided to withdraw the charges following a family meeting concerning the matter.
“. . . and I would not want my wife to go to jail. She is the mother of my three kids, and no one forced me to withdraw the case,” he said.
However, Mwapaura has since filed an application for a protection and eviction order at the magistrate’s court claiming that she is not legally or customarily married to Mr Mwemba. She also claimed that Mr Mwemba has never met her parents.
The case was briefly heard by Bulawayo magistrate Mr Shepherd Munjanja yesterday, who remanded the case to today for continuation. Mwapaura, who owns Pamela Creations in Bulawayo, was facing allegations of assaulting Mr Mwemba at their home in Hopeville suburb. Her company specialises in designing school wear and clothes for special occasions such as weddings and lobola parties, among others.
Mwapaura initially appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Nomagugu Maphosa on charges of physical abuse and was remanded out of custody. She was let off after the case was withdrawn.
According to court records, sometime in March this year, Mwapaura allegedly stalked her husband from the city centre to Luveve suburb. It was mentioned that along the way, Mwapaura’s husband offered a lift to a woman from Entumbane suburb to Luveve. Mwapaura allegedly blocked her husband’s vehicle before disembarking and confronting him.
“The accused person approached the complainant and took away his cellphone, a foldable Samsung, and smashed it on the ground. The value of the phone is US$1 000,” read the document.
Eight months later, Mwapaura allegedly assaulted her husband following a misunderstanding over money.
“On 2 November this year, the accused allegedly punched the complainant several times on the face, head, and back following a misunderstanding to do with money and family expenses,” read the document.
According to State papers, Mr Mwemba requested to borrow money from Mwapaura, who then became hostile, insulted him, and subsequently assaulted him.
