Harare Teacher Granted Protection Order After Ex-Husband Disrupts Classroom

Harare Civil Court building, where the protection order was granted

A Harare teacher has been granted a protection order by the Harare Civil Court following a distressing incident in which her former husband allegedly stormed her classroom and dumped her personal belongings in front of pupils. Patricia Yusufu successfully applied for the order against her ex-husband, Charles Mike, after he failed to attend the hearing, resulting in a default ruling.

In her application, Yusufu detailed what she described as a humiliating and traumatic encounter. She told the court that the pair had been customarily married before their union ended on April 2, 2025, under strained circumstances.

“Our customary union ended when he forcibly removed me from our home after I refused to relinquish my personal vehicle, which he intended to sell unlawfully,” she said, adding that traditional rites to formally dissolve the marriage were later completed.

Yusufu said the incident occurred while she was teaching, when Mike allegedly entered the classroom accompanied by several individuals carrying sacks filled with her belongings.

“They began shouting accusations at me, labelling me a prostitute and claiming I had a boyfriend,” she said. “These allegations are entirely false and shocking to hear from a former husband.”

According to her testimony, the group emptied the sacks onto the classroom floor, scattering her clothes in full view of students, colleagues, and parents who were present at the school.

“This degrading act left me traumatised, distressed, and seriously defamed,” she said.

The court granted the protection order, which is designed to prevent further harassment or contact, citing the respondent’s absence and the seriousness of the allegations presented.

However, the case is not yet fully settled. Mike has since filed an application seeking to rescind the default judgment, a legal process that could reopen the matter if granted by the court. The dispute comes against the backdrop of a contentious separation between the two. Court records indicate that Yusufu was previously convicted of stealing US$5,200 from Mike. She completed 170 hours of community service at a local hospital and repaid the money in full.

Legal experts note that protection orders in Zimbabwe are commonly issued in cases involving harassment, intimidation, or emotional abuse, and can be granted even in the respondent’s absence if the court is satisfied that the applicant faces potential harm. The case underscores growing concerns around domestic disputes spilling into workplaces, particularly in sensitive environments such as schools.

Harare teacher protection order