Zimbabwe: Peter* messed my life

I got pregnant while still going to school and that forced me to abandon my formal education prematurely. My parents sent me away from home and I was left with no choice but to head to my boyfriend’s place. He accepted me since he knew that he had forced me into having unprotected sex with him on several occasions. He had no choice for I was only sixteen and he knew that he would be arrested for having sex with a minor. 

Peter* was supportive and could do anything to make me feel loved and comfortable. He would regularly buy me presents and we went shopping as a couple. He would buy some beer and drank it at home while we discussed different issues as a happy couple. He would flatter me that he would pay for any vocational course of my choice in the near future. However, he did not pay any bride price to my parents though he kept promising to do it in the not too distant future. 

After giving birth to my second child everything changed for the worse as Peter* started being abusive. He started calling me names and being irresponsible. He said that I was careless with my life ever since I got pregnant for the first time. He blamed me for the first pregnancy saying I should have been cautious enough to prevent it. He often accused me of having messed up his life by rushing into an unplanned marriage. 

I often called my parents telling them what was taking place. My fears were confirmed when my father plainly told me that I could not be in that abusive marriage had I been an obedient girl. He further said that I had to reap what I had sown by rushing into marriage. At times Peter* would be very supportive and when I asked him what his problem was he uncomfortably blamed either his friends or beer for such behaviour.  

Peter* would beat me up for very trivial issues. He would apologise the following morning for his actions. One day I reported him after he had kicked me with booted feet. He was arrested and he pleaded with the authorities never to repeat it. He now supports me and the even encourages me to attend all women empowering sessions.