News / Local
Failed marriage haunts Bulawayo man
23 Apr 2015 at 10:05hrs | Views
A MARRIAGE which lasted only three months 45 years ago, has come back to haunt a Bulawayo man after his ex-wife attempted to evict his children from his house.
Msongelwa Jack Sibanda of Makokoba suburb who thought he had divorced Magret Ngwenya of Njube whom he married in 1970, received the shock of his life when Ngwenya emerged recently trying to evict his children using their marriage certificate.
Ngwenya was seeking an eviction order against Soneni Sibanda and Buthelezi Sibanda saying she now wants to use her house.
Sibanda told magistrate Victor Mpofu that he last saw Ngwenya in 1971 when she was caught in a compromising position with Silwana Sibanda who is husband to his sister.
"Your Worship, we've been looking for this woman for some time and when we heard that she wanted to evict my children, I went to the chief in my rural home. He told me that we should re-open her case of cheating on me. As it is, Silwana admitted more than 40 years ago that he was bedding my wife," Sibanda said.
"I can't say I'm still married to her because we last saw each other 45 years ago. We even signed the divorce at 'Msiteli' (Bulawayo Provincial Registry). This house is mine because it's in my name and she has no right to evict my children."
Mpofu turned down Ngwenya's request after Sibanda produced a document as evidence that the house in Makokoba belongs to him.
He said: "Sibanda, the divorce is in your head but in terms of law you're still married to her. If you didn't want her to have access to that house you should have divorced her soon after you caught her cheating."
"If you want to stop her from accessing the house then you should first divorce her. If you're to die today, she is going to inherit the house. I can't grant the eviction order because you two are still married, " said Mpofu.
Ngwenya told the magistrate that Sibanda beat her up and took her to sign the divorce papers at the registry offices.
"Your Worship, the workers at that place refused to make me sign because they saw that I was in a terrible condition. Ngangibole ngifile uSibanda engitshayile (I was nursing terrible injuries after Sibanda assaulted me.) Instead of signing for divorce they referred me to hospital," she said.
Msongelwa Jack Sibanda of Makokoba suburb who thought he had divorced Magret Ngwenya of Njube whom he married in 1970, received the shock of his life when Ngwenya emerged recently trying to evict his children using their marriage certificate.
Ngwenya was seeking an eviction order against Soneni Sibanda and Buthelezi Sibanda saying she now wants to use her house.
Sibanda told magistrate Victor Mpofu that he last saw Ngwenya in 1971 when she was caught in a compromising position with Silwana Sibanda who is husband to his sister.
"Your Worship, we've been looking for this woman for some time and when we heard that she wanted to evict my children, I went to the chief in my rural home. He told me that we should re-open her case of cheating on me. As it is, Silwana admitted more than 40 years ago that he was bedding my wife," Sibanda said.
Mpofu turned down Ngwenya's request after Sibanda produced a document as evidence that the house in Makokoba belongs to him.
He said: "Sibanda, the divorce is in your head but in terms of law you're still married to her. If you didn't want her to have access to that house you should have divorced her soon after you caught her cheating."
"If you want to stop her from accessing the house then you should first divorce her. If you're to die today, she is going to inherit the house. I can't grant the eviction order because you two are still married, " said Mpofu.
Ngwenya told the magistrate that Sibanda beat her up and took her to sign the divorce papers at the registry offices.
"Your Worship, the workers at that place refused to make me sign because they saw that I was in a terrible condition. Ngangibole ngifile uSibanda engitshayile (I was nursing terrible injuries after Sibanda assaulted me.) Instead of signing for divorce they referred me to hospital," she said.
Source - chronicle
