GBV causes woman to hit the bottle

Sun, 18 Feb 2018 12:28:06 +0000

By Frank Nyambe

THERE was laughter in a Local Court in Lusaka when a woman not only admitted sniffing a drug popularly known as sunko and drinking beer excessively because her husband always beats her. 

Justina Nalwamba, 48, of Zanimuone compound was testifying in a case where her husband, Winet Simwinga, 56, sued her for divorce after separating for four months.

Simwinga said that he has since married Mirriam Nkuwa also was present at court and showed up when she was called.

However, Nalwamba said she still loved her husband, Simwinga whom she got married to in 1987. They have five children and dowry was paid.

Simwinga told Senior Court Magistrates Pauline Newa and Miyanda Banda at Matero Local Court that problems started after 10 years in marriage.

This was because Nalwamba’s boyfriend sued for adultery.

He explained that recently Nalwamba drunk beer in the company of her in-law and that the children told him the two had embraced.

They then went to lock themselves in his house, adding that she was even labelled a prostitute by a mob.

Simwinga said this was why he decided to marry another woman and worse Nalwamba was drinking beer excessively.

He also complained that Nalwamba insults him adding that he was staying with his second wife at same plot.

In cross-examination, Nalwamba admitted sniffing sunko and drinking beer excessively but said this was because Simwinga was always beating her.

She also explained that it was even him who gave her the beer.

In defence, Nalwamba explained she never enjoyed her marriage because of Simwinga beatings her.

She explained that Simwinga never told her when he was marrying a second wife and that it pained her when his relatives wanted her to move out of the house.

Nalwamba produced the medical report in court as evidence for her beatings.

The court said Nalwamba was drinking excessively and therefore failed to respect Simwinga.

However, the court acknowledged violence in the marriage.

The court said Simwinga had married another woman quickly instead of resolving issues, adding that could be the reason Nalwamba was insulting him as she was denied conjugal rights.

The court granted the couple divorce ordering Simwinga to compensate Nalwamba with K10, 000 with an initial payment of K1000 followed by monthly instalments of K250.

The court ordered that the children remain with Simwinga and that Nalwamba should get 30 per cent from the sale of the house.