Couple in divorce 4 days after wedding

cheap-divorce-lawyersMashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter—
A NEWLY-wedded couple stunned a Bulawayo High Court judge when one of the parties filed for divorce just four days after exchanging marriage vows at a civil court. Justice Maxwell Takuva yesterday heard how Melusi Ncube, 29, of Lakeview suburb in Plumtree, proposed marriage to Sostina Ncube (nee Chikana), 28, of Nketa in Bulawayo before the two went on to wed on May 2, 2014 under Chapter 5:11 of the Marriages Act.

Chikana, who was based in Swaziland where she was a teacher, filed an application for divorce on May 6 after she discovered that her husband was customarily married to another woman.

According to the court papers, Sostina, who is the plaintiff in the matter, said she felt betrayed and embarrassed by her husband when he chose not to tell her the truth.

Ncube did not oppose the application.

“I was legally married to the defendant in terms of the Marriages Act (5:11) at Bulawayo magistrates court on May 2, 2014 and the marriage subsists. I aver that the marriage between us has irretrievably broken down to such an extent that there’re no reasonable grounds for restoration of a normal relationship between us,” said Sostina.

“The defendant lied to me that he was a bachelor when in fact he was customarily married to another woman and they’ve a minor child.

“He betrayed my trust and embarrassed me and I couldn’t stomach the issue of being in a polygamous relationship,” she said.

She told the court that she was also warned by her in-laws not to set foot at their home.

“The defendant’s parents warned and advised me that they wouldn’t welcome me since their son was already staying with another wife at their home. The defendant isn’t an honest man and surprisingly even his relatives didn’t tip me during the preparatory meetings for the wedding.”

During the subsistence of their marriage, the parties did not acquire property together.

Justice Takuva granted the order in favour of Sostina.

“In as much as the courts don’t condone divorces we, however, feel that there’re reasonable grounds to grant the order.

“I’m shocked that the marriage only lasted four days, but in this case, the plaintiff was indeed betrayed by the defendant and accordingly the marriage is hereby nullified,” the judge ruled.

Sostina was represented by Bruce Masamvu of Dube Tachiona and Tsvangirai Legal Practitioners while Ncube was not represented.

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