Mcheka-Chileje challenges Nkhoma’s lawsuit: ‘Marriage issues to be sorted out’

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Esther Mcheka Chilenje has challenge defamation lawsuit filed by her former husband Chief commissioner of Malawi Prison Service (MPS) Kennedy Nkhoma.

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, through her lawyer, has however countered Nkhoma informing the court that there are “marriage issues to be sorted out” and prays that the action be dismissed with costs.

She also contest that Nkhoma addressed her as Esther Mcheka Chilenje “while correct name of the defendant is Esther Mcheka Chilenje Nkhoma as she is duly married to the plaintiff.”

Nkhoma alleges in the law suit that she defamed him through a phone text message that talked about his health status.

The deputy speaker denies the accusation but insists the two were still legally married and that they should sort out their marriage differences.

Chilenje claimed Nkhoma ran away from their matrimonial home.

On April 14 2007 Nkhoma and Esther Mcheka Chilenje tied a knot in what was billed as wedding of the year which was attended by the former president late Bingu wa Mutharika.

The high profile marriage did not last due to what sources described as bad blood between the wife and her step children.