Man accused of abuse and shielded by courts, says Filabusi woman in JSC complaint alleging mishandled cases, judicial bias, and failure to hold her estranged businessman husband accountable for violence and financial neglect.
The woman, Peggy Mangena, claims that despite enduring prolonged abuse and navigating a series of legal proceedings, the justice system has consistently failed to hold him, Lewis Mangena, accountable. Her detailed submission to the JSC alleges a disturbing pattern of judicial negligence, enabling he to escape consequences while maintaining financial dominance over properties they once owned together.
Central to Peggy’s complaint is a violent incident she says occurred during the course of their strained marriage. According to her account, Lewis Mangena struck her on the head with an axe during a domestic dispute, then locked her inside their home and took away her mobile phone. She reports that her life was only saved after concerned neighbors heard her cries and forced their way in to rescue her. With their assistance, she filed a police report and expected justice to follow.
However, despite the gravity of the alleged assault, he was only sentenced to perform community service at Knocknara Primary School. Even that minimal sentence, according to Peggy, was not enforced properly—she alleges that Lewis Mangena avoided serving the sentence himself by paying another individual to carry it out in his place.
When several magistrates recused themselves from hearing the case in Filabusi due to its complexity or potential conflicts of interest, the matter was moved to the Esigodini Magistrates’ Court. There, a magistrate identified only as JB eventually acquitted both Lewis Mangena and the school official responsible for supervising his community service. The acquittal, Peggy argues, ignored the overwhelming evidence and emboldened him to continue violating the law without consequence.
In addition to the assault case, Peggy had also filed an adultery lawsuit against a woman she claims was living with her husband. This suit, too, was dismissed by the same magistrate, JB, on procedural grounds—another decision Peggy sees as a sign of judicial bias in favor of him.
Beyond the criminal allegations, Peggy’s complaint includes serious financial grievances. She says that Lewis Mangena continues to collect more than US$2,500 monthly in rental income from properties they once co-owned, but gives her no share. According to Peggy, she lives in poverty, despite a standing High Court order requiring the man to pay her US$870 in monthly maintenance. She accuses Magistrate Makhelo Ncube of allowing Lewis to circumvent the court order by permitting a drastically reduced payment of just ZiG 7,000—a figure far below the amount originally mandated, and one that she says does not reflect his clear business success and access to financial resources.
“I am pained. I survive on handouts and live in depression,” Peggy told reporters. “The law has always been on his side. I now fear losing everything, including the homes we built together, as divorce proceedings move forward.”
In her formal appeal to the Judicial Service Commission, Peggy requested an immediate and thorough review of all the legal proceedings related to her cases—ranging from domestic violence and community service violations to spousal maintenance and property disputes. She also asked the JSC to investigate the conduct of the magistrates involved, citing concerns about fairness, corruption, and a perceived unwillingness to protect vulnerable women.
As of now, the Judicial Service Commission has not issued a formal response. Nevertheless, Peggy’s complaint has already sparked wider conversations about the role of the judiciary in cases involving powerful men and vulnerable women, especially in domestic and civil matters.
Man’s Legal Victories Under Scrutiny as Woman Alleges Systemic Judicial Failures
Legal observers and gender justice advocates say the case highlights systemic problems in Zimbabwe’s court system, where women—particularly older women—often struggle to get fair hearings in cases involving influential men. They argue that without accountability for judicial misconduct and better enforcement of court orders, public trust in the legal system will continue to erode.
Peggy Mangena’s story stands as a stark reminder of the challenges many women face in the pursuit of justice. As calls grow for reform and transparency, her case may become a critical test of the judiciary’s willingness to confront its own shortcomings and uphold the rule of law, regardless of a man’s status or influence.
Source- Bulawayo24
