THE Lusaka Boma Local Court has fined a man K28 million as compensation for divorce with the first installment of K4 million to be paid on April 30, 2010.
He was ordered to pay his ex-wife the rest of the fine in monthly installments of K800,000 and to also pay K400,000 for child maintenance every month.
Senior presiding magistrate Elipher Mwewa in her judgment said the man will also pay house rentals of K2.5 million for a year for his ex-wife.
This was in a case in which Lukonde Makungu, 30, of Olympia Township in Lusaka sued his wife Bwalya Chisapa, 28, of the same township for divorce.
Makungu told the court that he was prompted to sue his wife after discovering that she had two boyfriends.
He claimed that his wife started flirting with affluent men with whom she worked.
Makungu said although his wife explained to him that there was no love affair between her and the men, he did not believe her because this was not the first time he was hearing about her extra-marital relationships.
In cross-examination, Makungu insisted that their marriage should be dissolved because, Chipasa allegedly started using charms, a practice he did not understand.
In defence, Chisapa denied having extramarital affairs but said that Makungu has a girlfriend named Mary.
She said since learning that Makungu has a girlfriend, he shifted from the matrimonial bedroom and stopped eating from home for a year.
She said that because of this it became difficult to even make love with him since they slept in separate rooms.
Chisapa said when they got married, Makungu was a very good man but she does not understand why his attitude towards her has changed so much that he was asking for divorce.
“I loved my husband but since he wants this marriage to end, I have no problem because I can not force him to love me,” Chipasa said.
Magistrate Mwewa said divorce is not good, especially when one has small children who are supposed to enjoy the love of their parents.
She said in some circumstances, the court has no option but to end the marriage when it is insisted upon.
However, Ms Mwewa said children are not supposed to suffer even when parents have divorced, saying it is for this reason that the father must continue paying child maintenance as stipulated by the Zambian Laws.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Silly man, you should have thought twice about this. Now it’s gonna cost ya an arm and a leg, I hope you will manage to look after two homes. Ubu chende bubi baLukonde, mwamona nombe bola yabipa. Just wait, Mary uyo will soon get tired of sharing the little you will be left with after settling the ex-wife!
Stupid man…he was just looking for an excuse to divorce his hard working wife. Divorce is a shame especially when their are children involved. Its better to remain single than marry and divorce. Mary u time will come too, this man doesn’t know what he wants….women machines are all the same there is no difference.
#2, women machines are longer the same. Some are now being used for drug trafficking!!!!
I like the judgement. Men think they can just come and divorce and carry on. Think twice and Ba Mary be happy for now otherwise your time is coming and not long from now,.
Let the bugger pay through his nose, how do you have a girlfriend called Mary? Automatically that sounds like a pub woman with bleached skin and unkempt wigs. The Magistrate also the fine you have slapped on this man will only last for about 20 months, so what happens to the kids after that? you should have made him to be paying till they reach 18 years
I believe the woman.The dude’s reasons for divorce are lame and carries no substance at all.Mary ndiwe mukali mwandi,what did you use to confuse the man like this?
“I hate divorce” says God
Wow!….. I am suprised that Zedian courts can be competent at times. Especially if there are no political interference. They should declare independence from GRZ. :-w
Give the guy a break,with these drug peddlers we have around its becoming inevitable,another Misozi Tembo arrested in Swaziland from India with herroine in her belly,its a shame.Now i have to explain myself to my collegues what has become of Zambian women8-|8-|8-|8-|8-|8-|
If Lukonde was indeed trying to divorce his wife unfairly and if he can indeed afford to pay the compensation stipulated then it is a good ruling. However if the amounts are completely outside the income levels of Lukonde then the sentence is futile and will not benefit his soon to be ex wife and children at all. The compensation should be measured and realistic if it is to be sustainable and serve its intended purpose of ensuring the welfare of the ex-wife and children. Having him arrested and thrown into jail because he cant afford what was stipulated is not going to solve anything or benefit anyone at the end of the day
Iwe Makungu, how do you divorce a wife with children for another woman? You are fortunate that your wife loves you. Ine, my dear Madam aliuma mat, nakonkela, ati ‘No’. I followed again. She refused to return. I went there again with my elders… she was not decided. I went there again, she wayawayered…
Balukonde ala fisanga abaume,kukosafye,Mary you are the next millionare pray that they increase the money.Balukonde is not in love with you,open your eyes,he just have money to dispose off.
Chilukonde uli chisushi sa divoce is not a solution you will regrete when it’s too late, don’t worry Bwalya you’ll get nother man
Mary you are fat piece of cow dung…..