Court dismisses adultery case

Annie Tembo, 36, a married woman told the Lusaka Boma local court that she continued an affair with her former boyfriend even after getting married. Her husband, Tiyese Habeene, 37, only learnt of the illicit affair only after he discovered underwear that her boyfriend bought. She told the court that it was then that she revealed to Habeene the whole truth of her relationship with Chilunda.

Tembo was testifying in a case in which Habeene sued Ken Chilunda, 39, for having an affair with his wife (Tembo). She told senior presiding magistrate Henry Mwananshiku that she knew Chilunda before she got married to Habeene. She said that she even had a child with him but the child died.
She said Habeene did not know that she had a child who died with another man and was shocked when he received the information.

Habeene, of John Laing Township, told the court he did not know his wife was having an affair with Chilunda whom he thought was his wife’s business associate. He said the truth came out when he found some new women’s underpants in their bedroom. He said he confronted his wife over the underwear and even threatened to kill her before she confessed she was having an illicit affair.

“I was speechless when she told me that she even had a child with Chilunda before meeting me. I was very disappointed with her secrecy. I therefore decided to sue him for adultery,” he said.

In defence, Chilunda of Sikanze Police Camp, said it was true that he once had an affair with Tembo but that they have long since gone their separate ways.
“She is the one I wanted to marry but could not because of circumstances beyond my control,” Chilunda said.

Magistrate Mwananshiku dismissed the case and urged Habeene to deal with his wife appropriately. The court said Tembo had weak morals not befitting her status as a married woman.