Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka
A man from Ntabazinduna in Umguza District, Matabeleland North Province, claims that his wife made him pay for sex as punishment for not finishing paying lobola.
Yes, you read that right, he claimed his wife denies him sex unless he pays her.
He further states that when he has no money, she consistently refuses, on the pretext that she is on her menstrual period.
In a matter yet to be heard at the Bulawayo Customary Court, Evans Banda, who is self-employed as a builder is seeking a divorce from his wife of over eight years, Angela Mpofu on grounds that he no longer sees the benefits of being married to her.
In his court papers, he stated that sometimes his wife enters the bedroom naked after bathing and applies lotion in his presence. He claims that when he tries to touch her, she refuses and pushes him away.
He further alleges that at night, she also screams enough for the children to hear, which he finds humiliating.
“The marriage relationship between the parties has irretrievably broken down and there are no prospects of restoration of a normal marriage between them for one or more of the following reasons:
“My wife is denying me conjugal rights. We have not slept together for almost 11 months, and she says if I want to sleep with her, I should pay her.
“She has consistently told me that if I want to sleep with her, I should pay her since I have not finished paying lobola.
I can’t do that right now; I can’t afford it.
“I cannot force her, as she currently has a protection order against me. Whenever I try to touch her, especially when she comes from bathing while naked, she refuses and pushes me away.
“At night, when I also try to touch her, she screams loudly enough for the children to hear, which I find humiliating. I no longer see the benefits of being married to her,” his papers read in part.
He lamented that despite his efforts, including financing his wife’s business ventures, she still denied him sex, insisting he pays because he has not finished paying lobola.
Banda further claimed that, to his chagrin, he once intercepted text messages which Mpofu would be sending to other men, allegedly telling them she was feeling a strong urge for sex.
Mpofu’s response is set to be heard when the parties appear in court.
