Insulting hubby loses marriage
Written by Millennium on August 5, 2019
RABECCA BANDA writes
A LUSAKA man who had turned insulting his wife into a hobby got what he had been wishing for when she divorced him in the Chilenje Local Court.
Jane Mumba, 35, a businesswoman of Shantumbu got tired of being insulted by Ronald Mulowa, 39, also of the same area and took him to court seeking divorce.
They were appearing before senior local court magistrate Ackim Phiri sitting with senior local court magistrate Harriet Mbewe.
Mumba and Mulowa got married in 1997 and have five children together.
Mumba testified that disputes in their marriage began eight years ago.
She said her husband smoked and drank alcohol too much.
‘‘When my husband drinks beer, he insults me and I feel embarrassed because the neighbours are always watching,” she said.
‘‘He insults me for no reason at all and causes a lot of confusion. Three of our children live with my elder sister because they are emotionally affected by his behaviour,’’ Mumba said.
‘‘He doesn’t respect my relatives and me. My relatives stopped visiting me because he insults them,’’ she said.
The families of both sat down several times but Mulowa had not changed.
His drinking habit was getting worse instead.
‘‘When he chased me out of the house, I used to sleep in the bush with two of our youngest children,’’ she said.
‘‘I left the house in May because he insulted me. I went to live with my relatives. He followed me and asked me to return home but I refused,’’ she said.
Mumba said a few days later, her relatives summoned Mulowa and told him to pay K500 ndapusa if he really wanted me to return home.
‘‘He paid K250, but I refused to go back home. I am tired of this marriage. I want a divorce,’’ she said.
In his defence, Mulowa said his wife left him two months ago.
‘‘I have been living alone and my daughter comes to cook and sweep for me.
It is true I was drunk and insulted her, but I didn’t chase her. I followed when she left, and her relatives charged me K500 ndapusa,’’ he said.
‘‘I complained and they reduced the money to K300. I paid K250 but she never returned home. I don’t want a divorce,’’ Mulowa said.
The court granted divorce and ordered Mulowa to maintain his former wife with K250 monthly for a year.
Mulowa was also ordered to maintain his children with K350 per month.
