By SARAH MWANZA –
A FORTY-SEVEN–YEAR-OLD man wept uncontrollably as he begged his wife to give him a “second chance” in their marriage.
Yusuf Phiri had sued his wife Esnart Tembo, 39, for reconciliation after the two failed to resolve their marriage differences on several occasions.
While in tears, Phiri told the court that he was crying because he thought that was the best way to convince his wife to give him a second chance to mend their problems and be together forever.
“If only my wife can give me a second chance, I will be more devoted to her and the rest of the family and I am willing to change and become a better husband,” Phiri said amid sobs.
He said although he had not been providing for his family, he loved his wife and family, and cited unemployment as his major hindrance.
In her testimony, Tembo told the Matero Local Court that from the time the two got married, her husband had been misusing money on other women and even deserted her.
“As I am testifying right now in court, my husband has been staying with another woman for the past two months,” she said.
Tembo said she had endured all the years of her marriage because of the 10 children the couple had together, adding that no man could accept her with that number of children.
She said family members had tried to talk to him but all in vain.
“Even when it came to paying house rentals, my husband used to give me half of the required amount, forcing me to look for the remaining half in very difficult circumstances. He is in a habit of accumulating debts which he makes me pay,” she said.
She said apart from being irresponsible, her husband was a womaniser who was fond of providing for other women at the expense of his own family.
Phiri accepted all the allegations levelled against him and asked for forgiveness from his wife.
However, Magistrate Pauline Newa failed to reconcile the couple because Tembo was not willing to forgive her husband.