A woman of Kitwe’s Kawama township has narrated before the Ganerton Local Court how her husband of nine years told her to start prostitution to sustain their matrimonial home.
Miriam Phiri also complained before Ganerton Local Court magistrate Fredrick Ndhlovu that her husband went home with his private parts shaved.
This is in a case in which Phiri sued Mountain Mulumbi for marriage reconciliation.
Phiri and Mulumbi got married in 2006 and have three children together.
Phiri told the court that her husband does not give her money to buy food and clothes.
She said her neighbour is the one who feeds her and the children and that when she asks for money from her husband ,he tells her to start prostitution so that she can raise money for food.
“My husband doesn’t buy me clothes and give me money to buy food stuffs. Whenever I ask him for money, he tells me to start prostitution so that I start making money to buy food at home,” Phiri said.
She narrated how her husband burnt all her clothes without giving her any reason for his actions and that he does not have any regard for her as a wife.
She said her husband has since stopped sleeping with her on the same bed as he now sleeps alone on the bed and makes her sleep on the floor.
But Mulumbi said his wife has the habit of drinking beer and that one day, she got drunk to an extent of burning their baby in the eyes with porridge.
He said she also sleeps on top of the baby at night and does not even wake up when the baby is crying.
He told the court that he was no longer interested in his wife because she has hearing problems.
Magistrate Ndhlovu said it was inhuman for Mulumbi to say that he was no longer interested in his wife because of hearing problems.
He said it is strange form him to think of divorcing her now when he knew about her condition when he made a decision to make her a life partner.
He reconciled them and urged Mulumbi to leave in harmony with his wife
Women need to change their social and psychological belief that a man should look after them. If Miriam Phiri had a trade, skill or business where she was able to genrate some form of income to sustain herself and her children this Silly Mountain would not abuse and mistreat her. Daughters depending on men as a source of livelyhood needs to be discouraged by all loving parents. We need to educate and teach trades and skills to our girl children to avoid this kind of situation. Men respect women who are able to earn for themselves.
Mountain is an abusive man and though the court reconciled them, I really wonder if they will live in peace.
That’s why white people will always be richer that black people because white men endeavour to feed and support their wives and children. It’s a disgrace for a white man who can’t support his family. Why can’t you black men feel the same way? They have been married for only nine years, the kids are still under ten years old, what skills can you teach them? It is also a God-given command for men (or head/in-charge) to provide for the family. 1 Timothy 5:8.
I think Judge should have imposed a Divorce on them with an equal share of all wealth created during marriage and ordered him to pay monthly payments towards the children for their schooling etc. Zambian men are very abusive to their wives in general due to cultural upbringing and societal norms. A housewife looking after children us working and the work is just as valuable a contribution to the marriage. If both worked someone would have to be paid to look after the children. We all need to change our views on poor unemployed wives in Africa. They have very limited capacity to look after themselves, we must sympathise and promote better treatment of them in marriages as we support their education and empowerment.
Wise decision from the judge. Mulumbi shud not have married her if his wife had a hearing impairment. Why he divorce her after giving her 3 children? Let him be a responsible man.
Next thing u will hear from this moron…He has badly battered his wife….There is no love btn the two…opposite whites divorces when there is no longer love…if such continues let them separate to prevent something else
Mr journalist, your last sentence should read, ‘He urged Mulumbi to LIVE not LEAVE. I know these blunders are common.