THERE was no slightest hint that Rodgers Banda, 37 intended to marry another woman when he suggested to his wife that she goes to live with her parents because he was facing financial challenges. His wife, Cleopatra Lungu, 35, was also agreeable to the suggestion but she is now seeking to reconcile with him after she found out that he had married another woman. She alleged that Banda neglected her and the children adding that he never visited them while sat her parents’ house.

She was testifying in a matter in which she sued her husband for marriage reconciliation. The couple got married in 2004 and has three children. She told the Matero Local Court : “ he took me to my parents and immediately went on to marry another woman. He promised that he would come and pick me when things get better,” Lungu said. Lungu wondered why Banda is managing to keep his relatives’ children at the expense of his own children.

“I still want my husband because I want us to raise our children together, I cannot manage to look after the children alone,” she said. But Banda in his defence told the court that he is not married and still wants to live with Lungu. He told the court that he did not abandon his wife but sent her to her parents because things became tough for him. Banda said: “I started sleeping at my cousin’s bottle store, last time she came in the bottle and started calling names because I was seated next to a woman.” He said Lungu got furious, started beating him and tore his T-shirt despite other people pleading with her. Banda said he followed Lungu at her parents’ house to reason with her bu