A 39-YEAR-OLD man from Livingstone has been granted divorce after telling the court that his wife repeatedly accused him of being a witch and even wished him dead.
Milton Siantika, of Libuyu, appeared before Livingstone Local Court magistrate Frederick Mainza, seeking dissolution of his marriage to Nyambe Munkombwe, 33, of Mulala.
The couple had married under customary law in 2013 after Siantika paid a dowry of K5,000. They share two children aged 12 and eight.
In his testimony, Siantika said the marriage had irretrievably broken down, noting that the couple had already been living apart.
“My wife has been alleging that I am a witch. She even wishes me to be dead. We are on separation. I cannot continue in this marriage because my wife does not respect me,” Siantika told the court.
He added that despite the separation, he continued to support his children, paying K800 monthly as directed by the Legal Aid Clinic.
Siantika explained that earlier attempts at reconciliation had failed, leaving divorce as the only option.
Munkombwe, however, countered that her husband’s true motive was another relationship.
“Siantika has married another woman and that is the reason he wants a divorce. But I am ready for a polygamous marriage. However, if he wants a divorce, we can simply divorce,” she said.
Munkombwe maintained that she still regarded him as her husband despite their separation.
Her father, Nyambe Munkombwe, confirmed awareness of the couple’s difficulties and told the court that since his son-in-law was insistent, the marriage should be dissolved.
“Since my son-in-law is insisting on divorce, then just dissolve this marriage because he no longer wants my daughter,” he said.
Delivering judgment, magistrate Mainza observed that Siantika had been firm in his desire to end the marriage and that Munkombwe’s parents had consented.
“Siantika has insisted on divorce and Munkombwe’s parents have consented to the divorce,” he ruled.
-ZDM