FED UP with being used as a punching bag by her husband, a 29-year-old pregnant woman of Chipata has sued her husband for divorce. Taonga Zumba of Mchini Township wants the Chipata Local Court to dissolve her marriage with Innocent Mbewe, 33, whom she described as a wife batterer. This was in a matter before Chipata Local Court Magistrates Tyson Mumba. Zimba narrated to the court that her husband is irresponsible and does not provide for her and their Children.

“My husband is very cruel. He does not even provide for his children and when reminded to provide for the family, he beats me,” Zimba complained. The emotionally charged Zimba told the court that her husband beat her up while she was five months pregnant and left her for dead. She said she hid the incident from her family because she did not want to embarrass him. Zimba told the court that she loved her husband and that’s the reason she hid the truth.

However, she said because of the mistreatments she has suffered she can no long withstand the beating. She prayed to the court that they grant her freedom by dissolving her marriage. But in his defence, Mbewe told the court that he still loves his wife. He admitted that he has been physically abusing his wife but justified his actions as a way of disciplining her. He said he does not want his marriage to be dissolved. Judgment