Born again wife divorces polygamous hubby
A Blantyre based woman, Dora Zingwe has asked Blantyre Magistrates Court to split-up her marriage, accusing her husband, Francisco of being polygamous.
Polygamy aside, Zingwe 37 and hails from Karonga village T/A Katonga in Chikhwawa is seeking against her husband of 15 years on grounds that he stands against her decision to be Born Again (BA) Christian.
Zingwe told the court on Tuesday, Francisco who two years ago fathered a child with another woman out of wedlock, earlier this year took in another wife after she refused to renounce her BA status.
“He has been cheating on. Every time he gets a new girlfriend he sends me back to my home village. He has a child with another woman and in January this year he told me will marry another woman as second wife because I refused to stop patronizing fellowship prayers. I therefore ask for divorce and seek welfare support for our children,” Zingwe told the court.
Surprisingly, Francisco did not object to the divorce but was all smiling while confirming to the court he has taken another wife after Zingwe refused to renounce her BA status and stop patronizing Christian Fellowship prayers.
Francisco also conformed to have cheated on his wife more than once, arguing ‘I only did that to force her stop patronizing fellowship prayers’.
“My family has been happy one until my wife started joined the fellowship prayers. I didn’t agree to it because am Catholic. She became more devoted to fellowship started coming home late. In 2006 I got myself a girlfriend, but was doing that in order to force her stop going to fellowship meetings and renounce the BA thing,” Francisco explained.
However, Francisco who works as machine operator for Leopard Match Company, consented it is against his religious affiliation to take in second wife.
“Though my church does not allow polygamy, I have no option but to take in second wife since my first wife is refusing to obey my orders. She even threatened me with divorce if I happen to take in another wife but am not moved with that, in fact I agree with every decision she has made,” he said.
Zingwe and Francisco got married in 1997 after dating for eight years and have three children. And the court is expected to make its ruling on August 31.
