A woman in Harare has been granted a protection order against her husband after he stole money and sold household belongings to pay for the funeral of a child he fathered outside their marriage.

Sirena Mutisi brought her husband, Elliot Maruye, before the Harare Civil Court on charges of emotional and financial abuse. She claimed that Maruye took US$210 from her and sold their refrigerator, television, and solar battery without her consent.

The court heard that the funds were used to cover funeral expenses for a child Maruye had with another woman. Maruye admitted to the claims, telling the court that he was driven by desperation.

“I was in a desperate situation. I had no other way to raise the money for the funeral,” he said. “I could not face the thought of my child being buried without dignity. What I did was wrong.”

Mutisi told the court that her husband’s behaviour changed following the child’s death. She noticed items disappearing from their home and later overheard him talking about sourcing funds for a funeral. Her suspicions were confirmed when she discovered the missing cash and confronted him.

“I felt used and betrayed that he would steal my money and use it to bury a child from an extramarital affair,” she said. “I’m now broke and struggling to buy food because he chose another family over us.”

Presiding magistrate Meenal Narotam issued a protection order in Mutisi’s favour and warned Maruye to refrain from further disrupting his household.

“You must stop destroying your marriage,” the magistrate said.

The case has sparked widespread discussion online, raising questions about trust, financial boundaries, and the impact of infidelity on families.