by Innocent Mujeri

Movement for Democratic Change Bulawayo Ward 24 Councillor, Arnold Batirai is in hot soup with his wife’s relatives and neighbours after he mercilessly beat his wife.

The development came after Batirai was confronted by his wife over used condoms which she found in his trousers.

Batirai, a known womanizer, did not take lightly the confrontations by his wife and he resorted to beating the wife.

A source who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity said Batirai’s wife could not report the case to the police after she was threatened with death by Batirai. She then opted to pack her belongings and moved out of the matrimonial home.

However, relatives of Batirai’s wife are allegedly pushing for the arrest of Batirai arguing that the abuse has been going on for some time.

The wife’s relatives are allegedly demanding that Batirai should pay for abusing their daughter.

A neighbour who spoke on condition of anonymity said Batirai was very abusive and he usually beat his wife and kids, although he claims to be a Christian.

“Batirai is very abusive and his abusive behaviour is now affecting his six year old son. This is the kind of behaviour which cannot be expected from a public official like Batirai. I hope his party will discipline him for abusing his wife,” said the neighbour.

Meanwhile, Batirai is being accused of corruption after he connived with Choppies Supermarket officials in Bulawayo to divert subsidised mealie meal on the black market where they sold it in US dollars.

Batirai allegedly used his influence as a councillor to get preference so that he could acquire subsidised mealie meal.

Cases of domestic violence are rampant in the MDC Bulawayo Province. Mpopoma-Pelandaba legislator, Charles Moyo, was charged with the same case last year.