Marriage breakdown causes tumoil in court

In court

A Hatfield couple which is seeking divorce after 34 years of marriage now awaits judgment in a case where they are in contention over the sharing of property. Judge Alphas Chitakunye will deliver his judgment on the case on a yet to be confirmed date.

Both Samson and Priscilla Mhlanga confirmed at the High Court last week that their marriage had “irretrievably broken down” and divorce was the only option.

According to Samson, the marriage broke up because his wife was unfaithful right from the start. Samson gives many incidents where he alleges that his wife was cheating on him. The other reason which Samson also said he was divorcing was financial; he argued that his wife had sold some of their “matrimonial assets” without his consent.

Priscilla also had a lot to say about her husband when she was giving her testimony before High Court Judge Chitakunye. The main issue was that of a house in Hatfield. Priscilla alleged that her husband was irresponsible, adding that for some time, she had looked after him when he was unemployed. “There was a time I was selling vegetables and even baking. I would use the proceeds for the upkeep of the family, when you (Samson) were not working.

“I’m the one who bought the car, it is registered in my name,” she told the court. “You are lying, why are you lying Priscilla?” charged Samson. “What was the colour and its registration number?” he continued. The woman said she didn’t remember much about the car, but Samson said the reason why she didn’t remember was because she was not the one who had bought the car.

At one time during cross examination, Samson had to be reminded by the Judge to ask relevant questions to the issue that was at hand. Even when the estranged couple started raising their voices, they were also strongly warned by the Judge. “How do we proceed if you shout like that, do you want to go out and settle this matter under a tree?” charged the Judge. It was Samson’s argument that his wife wanted to keep him out of their Hatfield home, while she had two other houses in Chitungwiza.

His wife however, argued that she had been helped to finance the house using proceeds given to her by her relatives. Samson argued that his wife had not in any way financed the buying of other properties using her own money, but she used money she got after selling their matrimonial assets. In his defence, Samson went on to say that it was his wish that the Hatfield house in question be put in the names of their last two children.

“My Lord, I propose that the house in Hatfield be put in the name of our two children. “I love my children, I am a Christian and the Bible in Proverbs 13 verse 12, says that parents should leave behind something for their children. “Our twins will be the owners of that house,” he told the court. Samson added that if such a ruling was made, he should be allowed to stay at the house, up to a time of about six months when he finds an alternative place.

His wife however, dismissed the proposal, saying that her husband would never leave the house. “If I settle for that my Lord I won’t get anything. He says that he loves his children, but he threw out our first born son who is mentally challenged. “He also never paid any money for fees for the last daughter. I deny his proposal,” she fumed.

Samson then made a stunning revelation when he said that he would not pay anything for his daughter, labelling her “irresponsible”. “She is writing her O-Level for the third year now, she is now 18. “A child cannot be breast-fed up till she is married,” he fumed. Priscilla then responded saying that their daughter had failed because she had been affected by their (parents’) divorce issues.