LUSAKA MAN SUES BEST FRIEND AFTER FINDING HIM WITH WIFE
LUSAKA MAN SUES BEST FRIEND AFTER FINDING HIM WITH WIFE
A Lusaka man has taken his best friend to court after allegedly catching him emerging from a spare bedroom at his home, amid claims that the friend had been having an affair with his wife.
The matter came before the Chelstone Local Court, where 27-year-old electrician Joseph Mwabula of Kasisi Compound sued his friend, Praise Mutokone, over the alleged relationship.
Joseph told the court that the trouble began on a day when he felt unwell and decided to return home from work earlier than usual, expecting to find his wife preparing food for the family.
However, instead of the welcome he expected, he allegedly found his best friend coming out of the spare bedroom.
Joseph said the discovery left him emotionally devastated and immediately changed his feelings towards his wife.
He then sought help from neighbours, who helped him take Praise to the headwoman’s council for questioning.
According to Joseph, Praise admitted to having an affair with his wife on several occasions.
The headwoman’s council subsequently ordered Praise to compensate Joseph with K25,000.
However, Joseph later took the matter to the Chelstone Local Court, where his wife was called to testify about the alleged affair.
The woman told the court that she first met Praise through her husband in February before their relationship later became intimate.
She explained that she became involved with Praise because he was the only man who was willing to provide food for her and her children.
However, she disputed the claim that the affair had occurred numerous times, insisting that she had only been intimate with Praise twice.
She told the court that the first encounter took place in the bush, while the second occurred in the spare bedroom at her matrimonial home.
Her account differed significantly from Praise’s alleged earlier admission that he had been involved with her so many times that he could no longer keep count.
The conflicting accounts left the court with two very different versions of how often the affair had taken place.
After hearing the matter, Magistrate Elizabeth Zulu ordered Praise to pay Joseph K24,000 in compensation, warning that failure to comply could result in imprisonment.
Praise pleaded with the court to allow him to settle the matter by paying K1,000 and giving Joseph four goats.
However, the court rejected the proposal and maintained the K24,000 compensation order.
The case has since attracted attention because of the unusual circumstances surrounding the alleged affair, which came to light after Joseph returned home unexpectedly and allegedly found his best friend leaving the spare bedroom.