Some argue that marriage is a ‘Shipikisha club’, implying that you must endure all challenges that arise, no matter their severity. This traditional perspective has been passed down through generations, unfortunately leading both women and men to endure emotional and physical abuse. In the worst cases, these marriages have tragically ended with couples resorting to violence, unable to muster the courage to leave as difficulties intensify. Leaving a marriage is often easier for men than for women, especially if the woman is unemployed and financially unstable, unable to imagine surviving independently. Theresa Mwamba, a 38-year-old divorcee from Kamwanya village in Mpika District found the courage to end a 19-year abusive marriage. She now supports herself by burning and selling charcoal....

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