A 57-YEAR-OLD man of Twapia has told the Kabushi Local Court that his 35-year-old wife refuses to shave him because her grandmother warned her that she would go blind if she did.

Edward Chilufya told the court that he overheard his wife, Elizabeth Moloshi, telling her sister on the phone that he was too old for her and that she could not shave him because of her grandmother’s warning.

Chilufya made the revelations in a divorce case brought against him by Moloshi, who accused him of neglecting her and forcing her to sleep in their children’s bedroom.

The couple, who married in 2011 and have three children together, appeared before Magistrates John Kabwe, Emelda Masuma and Paul Kayula.

In her testimony, Moloshi told the court that she wanted the marriage to end because her husband no longer loved her and they had not been intimate for three years.

Moloshi also accused Chilufya of physically abusing her and threatening to kill her.

“I want the marriage to end. We can’t live together anymore. For three years now, we have not been intimate. We got married in 2011, K100 dowry was paid and we have three children together, two girls and a boy. I wish this marriage to end because there is no love. He doesn’t care, he does not love me. He has complained against me, he has stopped coming home early and he has even locked the bedroom door and ordered me to move out of the bedroom,” said Moloshi.

“I sleep in the children’s bedroom. He doesn’t give me money for food, but he buys food and eats in the bedroom. He also told me that he has no affection for me, so we do not make love. My husband is a charcoal burner, and we have sacks of charcoal at home, but he forbids me from using them. I cook using firewood. He beats me whenever he feels like it. He said he was advised against marrying a Lamba lady because they are prostitutes, but he didn’t listen, so he regrets marrying me. He wants me to move out of the house so that he can put it up for rent. I wonder where he thinks my children and I will go. Every time I wake up around 01:00 hours, I find him seated, so I wonder why he doesn’t sleep. He once threw a log of wood at me and threatened to kill me. I am frustrated in this marriage. I have even stopped washing his clothes”.

However, Chilufya told the court that their marriage began falling apart after he lost his job.

Chilufya said what hurt him most was overhearing his wife telling her sister that he was too old for her and that shaving him would make her go blind.

“We have not lived peacefully ever since I lost my job. She has stopped washing my clothes and has lost respect for me. I overheard her talking with her sister on the phone, saying that I am too old for her and that she cannot shave me because she could go blind. That is what her grandmother advised her. When her mother visited, she saw me washing my clothes with my own hands, but she didn’t say anything. After I stopped working, she told me that there was no marriage between us. I support our children and buy food, but she has influenced them and tells them that she feeds me. I gave her money for food, but she went to buy flying fish. And yes, I had forbidden her from using my charcoal because she claims that I do not provide, but my children have access to it. We have tried going to the chairman and the church over the same issue, but there has still been no change,” said Chilufya.

In passing judgment, Magistrate Kayula dissolved the marriage, saying the couple was not compatible.

“We have heard both sides. You don’t sleep together. This marriage has failed, it is finished. You don’t share the same bed, you don’t talk, there is no affection. Marriage is about working together, solving problems together and sleeping together, but all this is lacking in your marriage. Divorce is granted. You have failed yourselves, you are not compatible. The two girls will remain with the mother, while the 13-year-old boy will remain with the father. The woman’s representative should bring the dowry forward. You should be giving the girls K600 every month without fail. Your house should be sold. Elizabeth will get 70 percent of the money, while Chilufya will get the remaining 30 percent,” said Magistrate Kayula.