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Lethokuhle Moyo Court Reporter
A MENTALLY challenged man yesterday begged a Bulawayo magistrate to grant him a protection order against his stepmother claiming she was denying him food.

Bona Moyo of Mpopoma suburb told the court that his stepmother Margaret Mpala barred him from having meals with the other family members.

He said he is a patient at Ingutsheni Hospital and pleaded with Magistrate Evelyn Mashavakure to order Mpala to give him food because he could not take his medication on an empty stomach.

He said Mpala had been ill-treating him since last year in April, demanding rent and electricity bills from him.

“Your Worship, we stay with her son but she always attacks me every time.

“I’m paying the bills but whenever I want to bath she tells me that I’m wasting water and when I don’t bath she tells me that I smell,” he said.

“I’m asking that I may be allowed to go back to my room because I was moved to another bedroom which has no keys and sockets. She sometimes tells me to go and stay with my blood brother in Mutare,” Moyo added.

Magistrate Mashavakure told him to look for the keys and if he cannot find them then he must change the locks on the doors.

However, Mpala denied the allegations and told the court that she took the room because it is closer to the toilet.

“Your Worship, what he is saying isn’t true. I give him food and he doesn’t pay the bills. I moved to that room because I’m not well and I use the toilet regularly,” Mpala said.

Moyo’s father, who was also in court, said his son is not appreciative.

“Your Worship, this is my son and this is my wife. We gave him a room, we give him food. I don’t know what else he wants because it seems like he wants more,” he said.

Magistrate Mashavakure referred the family for counselling and ordered them to come back with the results on March 27, before she makes a ruling on the protection order.