adminLethokuhle Moyo Court Reporter
A MAN whose marriage lasted for only three months in 1970, only for his ex-wife to return 45 years later claiming a share of the house he bought in 2001, was yesterday granted an order dissolving their marriage.
Msongelwa Jack Sibanda of Makokoba who last saw Magret Ngwenya in 1970 after she was caught red handed with her sister’s husband identified as Silwana Sibanda, received the shock of his life when the woman emerged recently trying to evict his children using their marriage certificate.
When Sibanda first came to court, he said he thought he was already divorced as his marriage lasted for only three months in 1970 after Ngwenya was caught cheating.
Magistrate Victor Mpofu turned down Ngwenya’s request to evict her former husband’s family after Sibanda produced a document as evidence that the house belonged to him.
He however told Sibanda that in the event of his death his ex-wife was going to inherit the house because they were still legally married.
Sibanda was jolted into action and applied to the court for the dissolution of the marriage after the magistrate had told him: “the divorce is in your head but in terms of law you’re still married to her. If you didn’t want her to have access to that house you should have divorced her soon after you caught her cheating.”
Yesterday, Sibanda brought files for the house that are kept at Makokoba housing office proving that he bought the house for ZW$3 million in 2001.
The magistrate then dissolved their marriage.
Ngwenya asked the magistrate if the ruling meant that she had lost the house and the magistrate confirmed her fears.
She then indicated that she would appeal against the ruling.
Bongani Ndlovu