DIANA NSOFWA writes
@SunZambian
A LUSAKA teacher who sued her husband for divorce has not been given compensation because she contributed towards the breakdown of their marriage.
Sharon Mbewe, 28, of 15 Miles sued Leonard Kolala, 38, of Kuku Township for divorce.
The two got married in 2013 and have one child together.
Mbewe told magistrate Pauline Newa that her husband was a jealous and violent man.
“We got married after I completed high school and there was an agreement with my parents that he would sponsor my education.
“After I had my first child my mother asked him if I could resume my studies and that she would sponsor the first semester. My school was in Kabwe, but I visited Kolala every weekend or twice in a month,” she said.
Mbewe said problems started in 2016 when Kolala visited her.
He started following her and they met on the way.
Kolala then started beating her and confiscated her phone.
“That’s how I packed and left him, although he only followed me after three days. I went back with him. He had three children from his previous marriage,” Mbewe told the court.
In defence Kolala told the court that their problems only started when she went to school because he was against the idea.
He said his wife liked going to her mother’s place because her former lover lived there.
She said he beat her after she provoked him.
“She started communicating with her old lover on Facebook. I would do everything for her, send her money and buy clothes. She forgets the good things I did for her.
“I went to Kabwe to visit her and found pornographic material on her phone. I beat her and got the phone,” Kolala said.
But the court said issues could not be resolved without talking, and observed that there was lack of trust in the marriage.
“When you lack trust the marriage cannot be well. Communication is very important. The love ended because of you. You need to exercise your conjugal rights; you both have feelings,” magistrate Newa said.
She granted divorce without compensation.
The custody of the child was given to its mother, Mbewe, but magistrate Newait ordered Kolala to maintain it with a monthly payment of K200 starting with the June month-end.
