Non-payment of dowry spoils reconciliation efforts

Written by on July 4, 2019

LUCY PHIRI writes

AN ATTEMPT by a Lusaka couple to be reconciled was thrown out by the Chelstone Local Court on grounds that the two were just cohabiting since dowry was not paid.

Mary Phiri, 31a Shoprite cashier of Garden Township in Lusaka sued her husband of ten years David Lungu, 34, of Kitwe for reconciliation after she alleged that he had been an irresponsible husband since they got married.

She told presiding magistrate Mary Namangala that her husband never used to work from the start and that was the base of problems in their marriage.

“He could get phones, plates and other things in the house and sell them. I have worked for Shoprite for eleven years but if you enter my house you would think that’s  when I have just started work,’’ she said.

She told court that since her husband started work at Kitwe Teaching Hospital he turned out to be a stingy man despite her helping him from scratch.

“He hides his pay slips and whenever I call him he insults me. I used to take all responsibility when he wasn’t working but now he is working he has neglected his family,’’ she said.

In defence Lungu said it was no true that he did not support his family or hid his pay slips

“The other day after getting my salary I was attacked  by the ‘Kopala Tokota Boys’ on my way home from the bank,

“The thing is my wife wants to come here where I am but the transfer is the one delaying otherwise there is no concrete reason why we are in court. I am ready to support the family it’s just that I am just waiting for my wife to shift from Lusaka,’’ he said.

But on learning that dowry was not paid, Court dismissed the claim because the two were just living like girlfriend and boyfriend.


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