Polygamist ordered to pay K5 000

THE Kanyama Local Court has ordered a polygamist to pay K5,000 as compensation for divorce after his first wife sued him for dissolution of marriage.
Bridget Mwanza told justices Daniel Phiri, Abraham Phiri and Sara Nyendwa that her husband Simon Banda, who sent her back to her family for counselling, has never bothered to bring her back to the matrimonial home.
Mwanza, 27, of Makeni Villa told the court that she eloped with Banda, 31, of John Laing in 2013, but after living together for a while, he asked her to go back to her family for counselling.
"When we got married in 2013 he sent me back to my parents, saying I needed traditional counselling but he never came to see me. After a while, he started following me until I fell pregnant," she said.
Mwanza also said when she told her husband she was pregnant, he demanded that she aborts because he had a lot of financial problems.
She said Banda, who promised to take her back to their matrimonial home, has never fulfilled his promise.
But Banda told the court that despite having another wife who is also pregnant, he does not want to divorce Mwanza.
Passing judgment, Justice Sara Nyendwa granted divorce.