They divorced on the day he paid lobola

It was quite a dramatic turn of events, when a man divorced his wife on the very day he paid lobola, the court learned. Gift Chigwanila said his wife Angela Macheka divorced him soon after he had paid lobola. Gift bared it all at the Harare civil court where he was brought by Angela who was seeking a protection order against him.

"I paid lobola/bride price for this woman in September but as soon as the ceremony was over she said that she no longer wants to get married to me but I was not refunded," said Gift.

Responding to the claims, Angela confirmed that Gift paid lobola for her, however she said that he was the one who insisted to do so against her will.

"Its true that he paid the bride price (lobola) for me, but I had told him before that I did not want to get married to him and he insisted," said Angela.

She went on to tell the court that she did not want to get married to Gift because he physically abused her.

"The reason I dont want him is because he always beats me up, he once assaulted me with a chain," Angela elaborated.

Magistrate Rebecca Tahwa, who presided over the case, granted the protection order in Angela's favour.