RABECCA BANDA writes
@SunZambian
A LUSAKA man has been divorced in the Chilenje Local Court for failing to take care of his wife and children and ordered to compensate his wife with K12, 000.
Mabvuto Sikanyika,41 a businessman of Avondale was sued by Esther Namonje,39 a businesswoman of Water Works.
Namonje said they got married in 2004 and have three children together.
“Disputes in our marriage started in 2016 when my husband abandoned me and our children. He arrived from work and packed his best clothes and left,
“He told me her was traveling to Tanzania to buy spare parts for the car. He left and called me two weeks later saying I should leave the house we were renting because he wasn’t coming back,” she said.
Namonje told senior local court magistrate Ackim Phiri sitting with senior local court magistrate Harriet Mbewe that at that time her husband had not paid rentals for two months.
“I was forced to handover our television set and decoder to the landlord. As days went by I heard rumours that he was in Lusaka. One of my friends told me that he saw him on a bus in town,” Namonje said.
When she called him to ask for for support for the children and money to buy school uniforms, he denied having any money on him and stayed away for one year.
“In 2018, our third child was hit by a car and died on the spot. We buried our child but my husband never showed up. We sat down with both families after the funeral and my relatives advised me to divorce him.
“He is not supporting his children. We have been living apart since 2016. I am his first wife but he has another wife with whom he has a child. I want the marriage to end because he has lost interest in me,” she said.
In defence Sikanyika said they lived in harmony when they got married in 2004.
“Things became hard in 2014 when I asked my wife to go with me to the village in Nakonde and she refused. I told her to remain because it was what she chose.
“I left her and stayed in Nakonde for a year. We did not communicate during that time. We have been on separation for three years and it is not possible for us get back together. I want the marriage to end,” he said.
The court granted divorce and ordered Sikanyika to compensate his wife with K12, 000 with the first instalment of K2, 000 effective July month end.
