Man fined for violating wife’s protection order

Trish Mukwazo, trishmukwazo@gmail.com 

A 46-YEAR-OLD man from Esihlengeni in Umguza District, has been fined US$250 for violating a protection order secured by his wife. 

Zamani Ndlovu appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Ernest Muzembe, who convicted him of failing to comply with the conditions of the order.

Ndlovu was sentenced to six months imprisonment of which three months were suspended on condition of good behaviour. The remaining three months were further suspended on condition that the offender pays a fine of US$250 or its equivalent in local currency through the clerk of court in Bulawayo.

In passing the sentence, Mr Muzembe said violating a court order is serious. He said the protection order was designed to ensure the safety and well-being of Mrs Sithozile Ndlovu.

“The insulting language used by the defendant constitutes emotional abuse, which can have severe psychological effects on the victim. 

“It is essential to impose a sentence that serves as a deterrent, not only to the defendant but also to others who may consider violating protection orders in the future. Hence, a hefty fine will meet the justice of this case,” ruled the magistrate

The prosecutor, Mr Mehluli Ndlovu told the court that on December 20 last year, at around 7am, Ndlovu went to Mrs Ndlovu’s vending stall along Fort Street between 11th and 12th Avenue in Bulawayo’s Central Business District. While there, he insulted her, accusing her of being a prostitute and threatening to kill her by striking her with lightning.

The protection order prohibited Ndlovu from emotionally abusing his wife.

“The victim was granted a protection order against her husband by this court, and the two are currently separated and not living together,” said Mr Ndlovu.