A Lusaka woman accused of committing adultery with Ministry of Foreign Affairs permanent secretary Ronald Simwinga and outgoing Central Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Patrick Mwanawasa by her husband, has strongly denied the allegations in the Lusaka High Court.

Musamba Mulenga Okpara, an investments officer at the Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ) claims that her husband, Lombe Okpara, hacked her phone for purposes of spying on her activities and recently procured a firearm, which she stated was to be used on her.

In this matter, Okpara, a businessman, has dragged his wife, Musamba, to court for dissolution of their eight-year marriage for allegedly engaging in adultery with Simwinga and Mwanawasa.

He also cited Simwinga and Mwanawasa as first and second co-respondents in the case.

According to his petition for the dissolution of marriage filed in the Lusaka High Court recently, Lombe claimed that his wife admitted committing adultery with Simwinga and Mwanawasa.

He stated that on November 3, last year, his wife and Mwanawasa spent time together at a short-term rented duplex apartment situated on Lukanga Road in Roma township.

Lombe stated that his wife and Mwanawasa spent about five hours in the said apartment from 17:00 hours to 21:45 hours after which Mwanawasa allegedly complained of pain on his manhood following the alleged sexual encounter.

Okpara also cited unreasonable behaviour, among other reasons, claiming that his wife arranged and hosted a party for Simwinga at her sister’s house and convinced him that it was a kind gesture to appreciate him for the favours that he did for her family.

He said his wife asked him to be present at the party and entertain the guests, little did he know that the primary guest was actually his wife’s sexual partner.

Okpara stated that Musamba would bring men to their matrimonial house whenever he was out of the country to perform his duties and would also receive lingerie as gifts from other men.

“The respondent has behaved in such a way that the petitioner cannot reasonably be expected to live with the respondent and prays that the said marriage be dissolved,” he submitted.

But in the respondent’s answer to the petition filed on Monday, Musamba admitted that her marriage with Okpara had broken down irretrievably, but added that the reasons for the breakdown were none of the allegations by her husband.

She strongly denied committing adultery with Simwinga and Mwanawasa and further denied each and every allegation in the petition.

Musamba stated that Mwanawasa was a friend who was at the time working in Eastern Province.

She added that she simply went to pay him a visit as friends normally would when he was in town and used the rented duplex apartment to hold meetings.

Musamba stated that “whether or not someone’s manhood is in pain is not indicative of having recently had a sexual encounter.”

She further denied confirming that Mwanawasa had wished he had married her and added that the reason for the decision to live apart with Okpara could also be attributed to the unreasonable behaviour portrayed by her husband, which included harassing her and her colleagues.

Musamba also denied having an intimate relationship with Simwinga and maintained that the relationship between them had always been plutonic.

She admitted accepting a gift from a friend, however, upon unwrapping the same and discovering that it was lingerie she immediately disposed of the gift.

Musamba also stated that her marriage with Okpara had broken down irretrievably due to her husband’s behaviour.

She claimed that her husband had been involved in a witch-hunt against her, adding that after she left the matrimonial house, Okpara engaged and paid a host of supposed pastors to rummage around the house in search of charms.

Musamba stated that Okpara had recently procured a firearm and stated that the same was obtained for use on her, and had further hacked her phone for purposes of spying on her activities.

She is now seeking an order for the dissolution of the marriage on account of her husband’s unreasonable behaviour and that Okpara be made to pay maintenance, pending determination of the matter.

Musamba further wants to be granted full custody of the children with reasonable access granted to Okpara, costs and an order for property settlement.