By NOMSA NKANA
NOT all mothers-in-law are troublesome, but when they are, they are a great source of frustration for husbands.
This was in a case presented to the Lusaka Boma local court when Benjamin Banda, 35, of John Howard accused his motherin-law of meddling in his marriage resulting in his wife suing him for divorce.
But his wife, Charity Banda, 31, of John Howard has confessed to living in “pure hell” for the past 15 years of their marriage accusing Banda of ill -treating her.
She complained to the court that instead of her in-laws helping to sort out her marital problems, they would end up fighting physically with her parents.
In a case where she dragged Banda to court for divorce, Charity explained to justices Martha Tembo and Prudence Bwalya that from 1999, when she and Banda got married, she has had no peace.
A dejected Charity told the court that Banda is in the habit of reporting to his parents whatever differences they have.
“This has led to our parents physically fighting and my in-laws hating me,” she said.
Charity said Banda has also been cruel to her from the onset because he uses abusive words to her, adding that he also neglects their four children.
She said one time when she was pregnant; Banda spoke bad words to her which she believes were curses because their child was born with a deformity.
Another day, she said, Banda went home drunk and when she took him food to their bedroom, he started insulting her calling her a prostitute because he did not find her at home earlier.
She said he also called her a dog, threatened to kill her and chased her from their home. Charity said it was for this reason she sued for divorce.
In his statement, Banda said he did not consent to divorce as he saw no valid reason for them to do so.
He blamed his mother-in-law for being responsible for their marital woes.
Banda said whenever he has a difference with Charity, she quietly walks out of their home to her parents.
“Your honour, what mother allows a daughter to run away from her husband? If my motherin-law did not entertain Charity’s behaviuor, I’m sure we would not be here for divorce,” he lamented.
He said as if that was not enough, his mother-in-law hit him with a knobkerrie when he went to complain about the manner in which she was treating their (Banda and Charity) marital problems. Banda complained that whenever he shifted to another location, his in-laws would also shift to live near the troubled couple.
The case was adjourned to December 12, 2013 to give the couple enough time to resolve their problems with family.