A 15-year-old marriage between a Lusaka couple has ended in divorce after the husband and wife accused each other of violent behaviour, substance abuse and infidelity before the Matero Local Court in Zambia.
Edward Kumwenda had petitioned the court to dissolve his marriage to his 40-year-old wife, Florence Wazi, of Garden House, claiming that the relationship had broken down beyond repair.
Edward alleged that Florence developed habits involving excessive alcohol consumption and the use of insunko, a type of snuff tobacco, after their marriage.
He further told the court that his wife allegedly became violent during disagreements and had on several occasions chased him with a knife and threatened to stab him.
The petitioner said he had previously commenced divorce proceedings but withdrew the case after Florence pleaded with him to give their marriage another opportunity.
However, Florence rejected her husband’s allegations and gave the court a different account of the breakdown of their relationship.
She claimed that their marital problems began after she discovered that Edward had fathered four children with four different women.
She also accused her husband of disrespecting her parents and alleged that he once threatened to burn her with a hot pot of spaghetti.
After listening to the submissions from both parties, Magistrate Moses Lubuwa dissolved the marriage.
The court did not award compensation to either party.
Florence was granted full custody of the couple’s three children, while Edward was given unrestricted access to them.
The court also ordered Edward to pay K1,500 monthly towards the children’s upkeep, with the payment commencing at the end of August.
The maintenance sum is subject to annual review, according to the court.
Both parties were further directed to share equally the household property acquired during their marriage.