Widow reconciles with her step-son

Written by on July 15, 2019

MUTINTA MULAYE writes

@SunZambia

THE Boma Local Court in Lusaka has reconciled a widow with her step son over disputes she had with him regarding the estate of her late husband.

This was a case in which Catherine Mwale, 41, took Alex Chinsungwe, 43, of Kabanana Township to court after he changed the locks to the farmhouse she stayed in with her husband before he died.

Mwale told senior local court magistrate Contilda Kamono that after her husband died in April, her and Chinsungwe were appointed administrators, along with the other widow’s sister, Joyce.

“My husband left two houses and one is at the farm where I was staying with him before he died. His first wife stays at the other house. What’s surprising me is that Alex changed the locks to the house to keep me away. I don’t know where to go now because I’ve been locked out,

“The caretaker at the farm told me over the phone that the locks that were there were removed, the place was cleaned out and the locks replaced. I went to the police who advised me to come to court,” Mwale said.

In defence Chinsungwe told the court that Mwale was never married to his father as she was just his girlfriend and was therefore not entitled to any property.

“My father told me himself that she was just his girlfriend. When dad died, we didn’t know where to take the funeral because he went astray and forgot about his family. I picked this woman and her brother from UTH and took the funeral to Lilanda where my mother stays,” he said.

He said he and she were chosen as administrators and he did not say anything because she was crying.

“This woman then went to the farm where dad was staying, took all the property and burnt dad’s clothes. So I went to have the place cleaned and changed the locks,” Chinsungwe said.

The court found that there was a high probability that Mwale was married to Chinsungwe’s father.

Magistrate Kamono reconciled the two and ordered Chinsungwe to open the farm house for Mwale who was entitled as a widow.


Reader's opinions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *



Continue reading

Current track

Title

Artist