HARARE - A Harare man who teamed up with his wife to beat his girlfriend is now in trouble with the law.

The couple ganged up to beat Memory Chitanga after they met her at the maintenance court.

Pious Makiwa, 41, is being charged with physical abuse while his wife Rachel Chitsatso faces assault charges.

The 30-year-old girlfriend  has two children with Makiwa but their relationship has since soured, resulting in her approaching the civil courts to force Makiwa to pay maintenance, the court heard.

According to the prosecution, Chitanga and the couple met at the courts to hear a judgment in a case in which Chitsatso was seeking an increase in the amount paid by Makiwa on April 17.

It is alleged on her way out of the court premises, Chitsatso started poking Chitanga and eventually began to assault her telling the woman not to send messages to her husband.

Makiwa, who did not like the idea that Chitanda had gone to get a variation of the maintenance — joined in to beat his former lover.

Chitanda managed to escape from the menacing duo and reported the matter at the police post at the courts. - Helen Kadirire