In what could be one of the most horrific scenarios of gender-based violence and human rights violations, a Masvingo man from Chiwara Farm near Kyle Dam burned his wife’s HIV medication after bringing his mistress home before asking his wife to leave the house.
The 28-year-old accused, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, has a record of abusing his wife, often endangering her health as he has a habit of ruining her medicines. He was dragged before Masvingo Magistrate Elizabeth Hanzi on April 2, 2024 facing charges. He was accused of domestic violence and was remanded in custody to continue the trial.
The State learned that on January 20, the defendant went to his girlfriend’s house, at approximately 1100 a.m. and took his girlfriend home where his wife of nine years was sleeping in the bedroom.
He found her sleeping on the bed, pushed her out of the house and closed the door. She tried to push the door but failed, as she cried while standing outside with her husband asking her to leave, saying that she was bothering him from spending quality time with his mistress.
After a few minutes, he opened the door and threatened his wife with an axe. He then returned to the bedroom, took her antiretroviral tablets and the hospital medication book, and went to the kitchen shed, where a fire broke out and burned her.
He then dragged his wife from the yard and threatened to kill her if she returned.
The complainant reported the matter at the New Start Center in Masvingo on the same day she wanted to obtain the drug replacement and was advised to report it to the Namamoa Police Station after which the accused was arrested.
The complainant said that the incident was the third time her husband burned her medications after he brought his girlfriend home and was accustomed to physically assaulting her every day.
The complainant said: “This is not the first time he has burned my medication, it is actually the third time. He physically assaults me every day, and sometimes when he comes home drunk he beats me because I greeted him.”
She went on to say that whenever her husband brought his girlfriend home, he would chase her away from the marital bed and lock her outside the house.
She said: “When my husband comes home with his girlfriend, sometimes they find me sleeping in bed, scream at me, and push me out of the house while closing the door.”
The complainant added that her husband took some of her belongings and gave them to his girlfriend, including her cell phone.
“At some point, he took my phone and gave it to his girlfriend, and when she comes to my house she uses it to play music in my presence,” the complainant said.
The complainant also said that they were married in 2015 and tested positive for HIV/AIDS in 2018. She said that her husband refused to take the test and was not taking medication. Telezem News
