LUCY PHIRI writes
@SunZambian
A 40-YEAR-OLD house wife of Kafue’s Mtendere township walked away with K4,000 compensation after divorcing her husband of five years in the Kafue local court.
Charity Ndamikwa sued Jackson Pande, 58, of the same area for divorce on grounds that her husband did not tell her that he was HIV positive.
“My husband shifted from the bedroom and sleeps in the other room, he also comes home shaved and this has brought misunderstandings because I cannot do a thing as a wife, hence my coming to court,” she said.
She told local court magistrate, Rhoda Njapau, that her husband used to refuse and hide that he wasn’t taking any anti-retroviral medication, not until she found them with him.
“My husband never told me he took ARVs I just discovered when he dropped them down accidentally. I asked him, he refused that he wasn’t taking them, he usually chases me from the house saying he no longer needs me,” she said.
She said her husband started having girlfriends too. She also said that he buys everything in the house including relish without consulting her as the person expected to prepare meal.
On the other hand Pande denied the allegations saying his wife always threatens to kill him with a knife whenever they quarrel hence his behavior fearing he might be killed.
“At one point we fought and she carried a knife saying she will kill me, for this reason I am scared for my life hence I have brought the knife and the shirt I was wearing when she was beating me to court as proof,” he said.
“She has moved out of the house for more than four times, of which I never packed for her but always beg for her to come back. She doesn’t want me to talk to women, its trouble if I do so. She beats me,” he said.
He said he was also tired of the marriage and wants a way out.
The two married in 2015, does not have children together and dowry was paid.
Divorce was granted and Pande was told to compensate Ndamikwa a K4,000 as compensation with k500 monthly effective April 30.