A Harare man violently attacked his mother-in-law after his wife received a Valentine’s gift from another man, accusing her of promoting infidelity.
Elita Mpofu, the victim, claims that her son-in-law, Tinashe Chiyangwa, physically assaulted her after discovering that his wife had received a gift from another man.
The incident, which took place on Valentine’s Day, has since escalated into a legal battle, with Elita dragging Tinashe to the Harare Civil Court to seek justice.
According to Elita, the confrontation began when Tinashe arrived at her home in a fit of rage. He was reportedly yelling and accusing his wife of infidelity after she received a gift from a male friend.
The mother-in-law attempted to intervene and calm the situation, but her efforts only aggravated Tinashe further.
“He pushed me to the ground and started assaulting me. He accused me of encouraging my daughter to engage in promiscuous behavior. Despite my daughter’s attempts to explain that the gift was merely a friendly gesture, he refused to listen,” Elita said.
She sustained a leg injury during the attack, which has left her traumatized and seeking legal recourse.
When given the chance to respond, Tinashe admitted to losing his temper but defended his actions, expressing frustration over the situation.
“I was angry because my mother-in-law allowed another man to give my wife a romantic gift on Valentine’s Day,” he said. “She knows that I paid lobola (bride price) for her daughter, yet she permits other men to approach her.”
While Tinashe acknowledged that his behavior was unacceptable, he emphasized that his anger stemmed from a sense of betrayal and disrespect.
The magistrate granted Elita a peace order, legally prohibiting Tinashe from harassing or approaching her.