In a rare show of dishonour, a younger sister allegedly tipped her brother-in-law about his wife sneaking her lover in their matrimonial home whenever he was away in Lusaka on duty. The witness,Thaben Mwanza told the court when he was testifying against Jacqueline Masumo, 32, whom he sued for divorce on grounds of promiscuity and deserting the matrimonial home.

Mwanza,34, told Buchi senior local court magistrate Elita Bwalya that the couple has three children together, two of whom were born before they officially got married, and one during their marriage. He said the couple got married in 2013 and that K100 bride price was paid.
Mwanza said all was well between him and his wife and problems started when they moved from Lusaka to Kitwe.

He narrated that his wife’s younger sister tipped him that her older sister usually sneaked in a man into the house whenever he was not at home. Mwanza narrated that one December evening whilst he was at home with his wife, a man came through around 22:00 hours. He said when he asked the ‘stranger’ wanted he wanted, he responded that he wanted to see his madam, whilst pointing at Jacqueline Masumo.

Mwanza said he was angered by the incident and started beating up his wife who quickly ran to the matrimonial bedroom and that when he chased her behind, the alleged boyfriend also followed closely. He said from that incident, there had never been peace in the couple’s marriage.
Mwanza said he called for a family meeting at which his wife’s relatives rebuked her for bad behaviour and pleaded with her to change.
He testified that Masumo did not change but resorted to alcohol consumption and negligence of house work.

Mwanza said Masumo left the matrimonial home to live with her brother but that it was the brother that called him to go and get his children as they were not being looked after properly. He said he again attempted to reconcile with his wife but to his surprise, she started renting a house in Buchi.
He said when he attempted to get some of the household property Masumo had taken, she reported him to the police for malicious damage and was locked up for three days.

But Masumo said the problem with her husband was that he was always suspecting her of having affairs. She said her husband was dishonest and was taking anti-retroviral drugs in secrecy.

Masumo said her husband lacked respect for her. Magistrate Bwalya granted divorce on grounds of lack of love, gender-based violence, and a lengthy separation. She ordered Mwanza to compensate Masumo with K5000 in monthly instalments of K200.