Widowed pensioner tormented by neighbours

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A WIDOWED pensioner’s life has become a living hell due to the actions of inconsiderate and hostile neighbours.

Maria Mabunda (73) of 17 Avenue, lives alone and has had to seek a protection order twice to try secure her peace from unruly neighbouring youth and a healer’s many clients.

Mabunda was born on the property, and since husband’s death in 2010, the culprits have been harassing her by urinating in her yard, while the healer’s clients have been littering and blocking her entry by parking in front of her gates – even when she asks them to park elsewhere.

Mabunda said she was stressed by the daily unprintable insults levelled at her. “All of them are my grandchildren’s age yet they show no respect and seem hell-bent on [trying to get] me out of the only place I can rightfully call home. I am also suspicious this may be a ploy to break into my house, hurt or kill me, or to build in the empty space in my yard,” she said.

Mabunda rarely ventures out.

“I have stopped attending community meetings or social gatherings, and no longer go to church on Sunday [so that I can] secure my home through my physical presence.”

Some supportive youth are trying to shield her from the harassment, which they said was unwarranted as she has not harmed anyone. They also said a confrontation with the trouble makers is imminent if their behaviour continues much longer.

They said they have already warned some of them to desist provoking, her as their actions may encourage passers-by to break into her home as she was vulnerable. One of them, Adolph Marema, who grew up under Mabunda’s watch, said what disturbed them most was that the trouble makers came from elsewhere and were unconcerned about maintaining neighbourliness in Alex.

“Their intentions may be to intimidate her so that she can let them occupy part of her stand. Also they litter next to her yard deliberately to provoke her and when asked, they say that as the land owner, only council can admonish them,” he said.

Marema added that as one of the few remaining senior citizens, more people should know of Mabunda’s plight just in case she was harmed.

“Her age should accord her respect as she was a repository of knowledge, wisdom and advice which youths should exploit for their own good while she is still alive,” he concluded.

What can be done to help this widow secure her home further?

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