A CHONGWE woman has told the court that her husband walks around wearing only a boxer and threatens to take it off and remain completely naked in public, leaving her embarrassed.

But in his defence, her husband, Alick Sinyinza, who could not explain his behaviour, blamed his actions on alcohol, particularly the lagers he drinks.

In this matter, Matildah Nambeye, 42, of Mwalubemba area in Chongwe, has petitioned the court for divorce from her husband, Alick Sinyinza, 49, citing persistent disagreements and insults in their marriage.

In her statement to the Chelstone Local Court, Nambeye said her husband had subjected her to years of physical and emotional abuse.

“I’m 42 years old, I live in Mwalubemba, and I’m working. He is my husband. We got married in 2000, and we have four children. He was charged K14,000 as damages, but regarding bride price, because he had a health condition, my parents agreed that he would not pay anything. We have a church marriage certificate, although the marriage is not registered at the Civic Centre. I want the marriage to end because we do not live in peace. He beats me and insults me excessively,” she said.

“Our problems started in 2013. He first broke my four phones and later broke the TV. After I started working at the airport, he packed all my clothes in a sack, chased me from home, and took my clothes to my workplace. My employers gave me a loan, which I used to buy a plot and build a house. After being chased from home, I stayed at his relative’s place, but he followed me there and continued beating me. I then left and started renting a house while waiting to finish building my own house. Later, he came and begged me to return home, and I forgave him. We resumed living together, but in 2021, he returned to his old ways of beating me. I left again, but after he begged me, I forgave him and returned. This cycle continued repeatedly”.

Nambeye narrated how her husband assaulted her with a machete and injured her hand.

“Then in 2024, he beat me on the hand with a machete. I came to court to buy him a summons for divorce, but the family advised him not to sign it and said we should settle the matter at home. However, throughout 2024, we continued having misunderstandings. He chased me from home, and I went to live in the house I was building. While I was there, he asked me to leave him alone for six months because he was not comfortable living with me and the children due to the noise they made. After six months, we returned to his house. He later called me a prostitute because I arrived home late after passing through the market to buy an extra mattress for the children, as they needed more sleeping space. He beat me and tore my clothes, causing me and the children to leave the house and stay at his sister’s place,” she said.

“In May 2025, he told me that he wanted to marry another woman, and I accepted. Two days later, while I was selling cigarettes at the shop, he came with a machete, cut me on the hand, and told me that I would never live in our house. I left and stayed with my sister’s child. After some time, I returned home, but he chased me away again two days later. Two days after that, he came to collect me from my sister’s place, and we returned home. This is how we have continued living in our marriage”.

Nambeye said this year, they had only stayed together for three months before he chased her away.

“Again, this year, we only stayed together for three months. Then he chased me away, saying that when I’m around, he doesn’t breathe properly. This time, it became worse because he even chased the children away. Last week, my workmate had a funeral, and I informed my husband that I would be spending the night there. He escorted me to the funeral. Around 21:00 hours, he called me and said, ‘Your children are prostitutes. You’re also just doing prostitution at the funeral where you have gone.’ This upset our third-born child, who confronted her father, telling him that he had been insulting them for a long time and calling them prostitutes. They started fighting, and I could hear everything because he did not end the call,” she said.

“I then called his sister to go and check on them at home. When she arrived, she found that the children had locked their father in the bedroom. She took the children and went with them to her place. The following day, when I returned from the funeral, I bought him divorce summons, but he was very drunk, so I did not give them to him”.

Nambeye said her husband had repeatedly accused both her and their children of engaging in prostitution.

“The next day, after I knocked off from work, he also came back home very drunk. He started insulting us, calling us prostitutes, saying that young men sleep with me, and accusing me of teaching the children prostitution. He then started pulling me outside the house, saying that we should leave because when I am there, he cannot breathe properly. He started beating me and tearing my clothes. My sister’s child came and started shouting at him, and that is when my husband stopped and went into the bedroom until all the people who had come left,” she said.

“After they left, he came out of the bedroom naked, wearing only a pair of boxers, and started saying that we should move out of his house because we are prostitutes. He also accused the children of sleeping with neighbours so that they could bring money to me, their mother. I told him to go back inside and dress up because it was inappropriate for him to be outside naked in the presence of the young ladies and everyone else. He said he could even remove the boxers and remain completely naked so that everyone could see. He then went back into the bedroom, dressed up, and returned with a rake, saying he would use it to beat us so that he could make news and appear in the newspaper. We then left the house with the children and left him alone. I gave the community vigilant the summons to give to him, and that is how we are here now”.

Asked during cross-examination if the court should intervene and speak to him so that he could stop his behaviour and allow them to reconcile, Nambeye agreed.

“Yes, you can. I still love him, but I am feeling shy because he moves around naked in the presence of people and children and his insulting behaviour,” said Nambeye.

And in his statement, Sinyinza said he did not want the marriage to end, adding that he still loved his wife despite having chased her away.

“I’m 49 years old, live in Mwalubemba, and I’m currently not working. I don’t want the marriage to end. I still love my wife, even though I chased her. I have lived with her for many years,” he said.

Given a chance to question her husband on his statement, Nambeye said she did not have any questions.

Asked what goes on in his head for him to be walking naked in front of his children and in public, Sinyinza said he did not know what happens.

“I don’t know what happens, Your Honour,” said Sinyinza.

Asked what type of alcohol makes him walk around naked, Sinyinza said he drinks lagers.

The court adjourned the matter to a later date for judgment after Sinyinza submitted that he would change his behaviour, while his wife agreed that she was willing to reconcile with him if he changed.