SANFROSSA MANYINDA writes
@SunZambian
THE high number of divorce cases especially among young couples has become a source of great concern in Zambia mainly due to infidelity, says Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) Zambia executive director Patricia Ndhlovu.
Ms Ndhlovu said the rate at which young married men were abandoning their wives and children to remarry elsewhere without providing support to their first families had reached alarming levels.
She said in an interview that it was unfortunate that divorce cases were mainly caused by infidelity and lack of intimacy between spouses.
Ms. Ndhlovu said that was not a good example to those anticipating marriage as it could be intimidating, stressing that they may feel that marriage was nothing but a waste of time.
“It is saddening to learn that the average age of couples seeking divorces especially in local courts are between the ages of 20 and 45 years. And this is mainly due to infidelity which in most cases breeds irreconcilable differences in marriage,” she said.
She said that couples should at all times be advised to communicate whenever they had differences as communication was important in marriage because without it, couples became irritated and resented each other.
She said that good communication was foundation of a stronger marriage further encouraged couples to avoid yelling at each other but that they should rather talk over issues amicably.
“Marriage is designed by God and is a wonderful institution, hence the need to help couples resolve their differences. Marriage is also an honorable and beautiful covenant that should never end up in divorce,” Ms. Ndhlovu said.
And a Lusaka based Traditional Councilor Edwin Zulu said that the increasing number of divorce cases was as a result of loss of traditional and cultural values by the current generation.
Mr. Zulu said that the current generation has no regard for traditional roots because of technology and western culture that has taken over.
“We cannot have more television shows like ZEE World and Telemundo and expect to have an upright generation. These shows have erased reality and rubber stamped our minds with fantasy and this is why we are seeing the number of divorce cases rising,” he said.
