A WOMAN of Lusaka’s Kamwala South begged the Lusaka Boma Court to
dissolve her 18-year-old marriage because she was tired of supporting
her “good for nothing lazy-drunkard” husband.
Ireen Mumbi, 32, told senior court magistrate Lazarous Mwape that the only thing her husband Kennedy Kafupi, 38 was good at was lazing around the house and stealing household property to sustain his irresponsible drinking habit.
But to Mumbi’s unpleasant surprise, the court dissolved the marriage
and ordered her to pay Kafupi K3 million as compensation to help him
kick start his new life.This was in a case in which Mumbi sued Kafupi
for divorce.
The two, who got married in 1995 have two children.
Mumbi
complained to the court that she has never known peace in her marriage
as she has been forced to be the man of the house while Kafupi stayed
home to enjoy the sweat of her labour.
She said she has over the years learned to tolerate his laziness as an elder in the church hoping that through prayer, Kafupi would change but unfortunately, he seems to be getting worse as he ages.
She also
said when she bought a farm and started building a house; he went out of
his way to jeopardise her project by stealing the pockets of cement she
had bought and selling it cheaply in their community.
Mumbi said when she embarked on another income generating activity and started rearing chickens, Kafupi started stealing the chickens and selling them behind her back.
“I am a very hard working woman, I provide for my children and I have supported him in all the years we have been married yet all he does is frustrate my efforts. It puzzles me why he always tries to destroy everything I do because he is also a beneficiary,” she said.
She complained to the court that Kafupi was also abusive to her and the children, especially after his drinking sprees. She said Kafupi once stabbed her on the chest with a knife because she refused to give him money for alcohol.
“We no longer have any property to brag about in the
house because he has either sold it or destroyed it during his
irrational tantrums.
And I have tried to tolerate him all these years
because I am an elder in the church. I always hoped for the best but not
anymore. I am tired of this man and this marriage.
In his statement Kafupi refuted claims that he was lazy, adding that he was as hard working as Mumbi. He said the problem with Mumbi was that she undermined his contributions to their household.
“I am also a
businessman, still struggling but I do contribute. It’s just that she
does not appreciate my efforts. I feel she wants a divorce because she
is having an affair with her business partner,” he said.
He said
although he loves alcohol, he was not an abusive father and husband,
adding that Mumbi was just exaggerating.
When asked by the court if
Mumbi was the one who financed his business, Kafupi responded in the
affirmative.
Passing judgment, the court after reprimanding Kafupi for failing to be the head of his household, granted divorce and ordered Mumbi to compensate him to help kick start his new life.
She was ordered to pay
K3million in monthly installments of K 250,000. All property including
the house was given to her.
The court also gave Mumbi custody of their two children-Sunday Mail of Zambia
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