A LUSAKA woman has filed for judicial separation from her husband on grounds that he has neglected to constantly maintain their children, especially one who is physically challenged.

Juliet Moono, a teacher, laments that her husband, Misinzo Moono, has refused to take care of the child’s condition despite being a medical doctor and has refused to pay for the child’s physiotherapy on the basis that he has no money.

She adds that her husband not only physically abuses her in the presence of their children, but also demeans and compares her to other women.

According to a petition for judicial separation filed in the Lusaka High Court, Juliet stated that she was lawfully married to Misinzo on October 31, 2005 at the Unification Church in Barastone Lusaka.

She added that she was a teacher by profession but was currently unemployed while Misinzo was a medical doctor working at Mansa General Hospital in Mansa, Luapula Province.

Juliet stated that they were both domiciled in Zambia and had three children.

She explained that to the best of her knowledge, there were no other children born to her or her husband.

Juliet added that there have been no previous proceedings in any court of law in Zambia with reference to the marriage between them.

She lamented that Misinzo had behaved in such a way that she could not reasonably be expected to continue living with him.

Juliet stated that particulars of the unreasonable behavior was that Misinzo had neglected to consistently maintain the children of the family, especially one who was physically challenged.

She stated that Misinzo stopped paying for the child’s fees at Cheshire Homes for the physically challenged in 2018 term one which resulted in the child’s school being changed.

“The respondent (Misinzo) has refused to take care of the child’s condition despite being a medical doctor and has refused to pay for the child’s physiotherapy on the basis that he has no money which has affected the child’s development. The respondent does not communicate to the petitioner (Juliet) regarding his whereabouts and when he comes to visit the family, he will leave without informing her,” Juliet stated.

She further stated that Misinzo sales matrimonial properties without her consent and does not account for the money or use the money for the benefit of the family.

“For instance, the respondent in the recent past sold a family vehicle and claimed that the proceeds would be used towards completing the matrimonial home, but only used part of the proceeds and did not account for the balance,” read the petition.

Juliet also stated that Misinzo physically abuses her in the presence of the children and was once arrested for physically abusing her.

“There is no transparency in the respondent’s use of the family income as he does not disclose how much he gets paid or how much money he uses as the family struggles in terms of the children’s daily needs and education. The respondent demeans the petitioner and compares her to other women,” she stated.

Juliet is now seeking an order for judicial separation to be granted and that she be granted custody of the children of the family with reasonable access to Misinzo.

She also wants the court to make an order for the maintenance of her and the children of the family, among others.