CEASAR MBEWE writes
@SunZambian
A woman of Lusaka’s Kanyama Township has begged the local court to end her 15 years marriage claiming that her husband was promiscuous.
Esther Kaoma, 35, of Kanyama Township wanted to be divorced from her husband, Kennedy Kaunda, 38, a minus driver of the same area, because he was reportedly cheating on her.
Facts before the court were that on unknown date in 2007, the two got married by word of mouth and dowry was not paid despite the groom being charged between K3000 and K5000. The couple has 4 children together, three girls and one boy with the oldest being 17 and the youngest 3.
Esther told the court her husband treated her well soon after they got married but about 2015 changed when he began having some money and drinking alcohol.
“My husband is a bus driver and we have been able to survive and send children to school through that job. I accepted him as he was but he suddenly became stingy and sleeping around,” she said.
But in his defense, Kennedy said he performed all the man’s duties at his home and provided his family with enough money to live on whenever he could.
“I give all the money to my wife whenever I have but of late she has started misusing it and so I stopped. That’s why she is angry,” he said.
The court ruled it could not pass judgement in the matter because the marriage was not formalized through payment of the dowry and bride price.
The court added that it was shocking to see two people being together for 15 years and yet not married and the court advised the couple to go and sit with their parents to sort their problems because the court had no jurisdiction to intervene.
