By THANDIWE MOYO –
A woman in Lusaka caused laughter in the Matero local court when she refused to reconcile with her husband on grounds that he was offering his merchandise to women in exchange for sexual favours.
Charity Zimba, 39, of Zanimuone Township narrated that her husband, Maxwell Zulu, 29, a trader, had multiple sexual encounters with his female clients who she accused of infecting him with sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS.
“Instead of selling products to women, he started demanding sex and not money. He sleeps with these women from his makeshift shop which led to him contracting STIs,” she said.
The couple got married in 1998 and has five children together, but Zimba complained that she was never happy in her marriage due to her husband’s promiscuous behaviour.
Ms Zimba pleaded with the court not to reconcile her with her husband, saying she had tried her best to make the marriage work but her husband’s health could not allow it.
She said before her husband started his business, she used to fend for the family while Zulu used to “steal” her money for gambling with his friends.
Ms Zimba also revealed that she contracted HIV/AIDS and other STIs from her husband whenever the couple resolved to stay together.
However, Zulu told the court that he wanted to reconcile with his wife even if he had been beaten by her boyfriend on several occasions.
“I love my wife and I want her back. If I have wronged her may she forgive me and give me back the family I deserve,” he pleaded.
In passing judgment, Magistrate Pauline Newa refused to reconcile the couple because Ms Zimba was not willing to go back to her husband.