By THANDIWE MOYO
THE Matero Local Court in Lusaka has dissolved a marriage between a 40-year-old man and his wife due to her excessive drinking of a local brew called ‘Kachasu’.
This is a case in which Chengelani Chitalu of Chipata Township sued his wife, Florence Chela of Mandevu Township for divorce because of her perpetual abuse of alcohol and negligence of their children.
Chitalu told the court that his wife had on several occasions left the children starving and “paraded herself” in bars as early as 06:00 hours.
“I am tired of my wife’s behaviour of prioritising  alcohol at the expense of the family. She smells of alcohol and is always drunk,” he said.
Chitalu told the court that his wife did not take care of him when he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, a situation that made him send her away from their matrimonial house.
“My wife neglected me when I got sick as she opted to go and drink beer with her friends, leaving me alone,” he said.
In defence, Chela said she loved her husband even if he did not pay dowry, adding that only death would separate them.
But she accused her husband of having found a girlfriend, and cited that as the reason why he “created” stories of her not caring for their children.
Chela said her husband never used to buy food for the family, a situation that compelled her to spend time at her younger sister’s home.
“I have nowhere to go with my children and my husband promised to be with me in sickness and in health. For that reason I am not ready to leave him,” she said.
Magistrate Pauline Newa, sitting with Magistrate Lewis Mumba, threw out the matter on grounds that the two were only cohabiting and not legally married as dowry was not paid.