In a recent case at the Matero Local Court, magistrate Lewis Mumba was left shocked by a couple’s extramarital affairs during their short-lived marriage, which ended before reaching two years. The case involved Lilian Sindano, 29, an electrician, who sought a divorce from her 31-year-old husband, Aaron Mulenga, a shift supervisor at a manufacturing company.
Sindano described how the marriage had deteriorated, claiming Mulenga had given her a one-month notice to leave because he wanted to rekindle his relationship with his ex-wife. The couple married on March 4 of the previous year, with Mulenga reportedly having a history of multiple marriages and children from prior relationships.
Sindano revealed that the marriage was stable for only four months, during Mulenga’s period of unemployment. Once he resumed work, however, he began to mistreat her, including discouraging pregnancy and physically assaulting her when she became pregnant, which led to a miscarriage. She also accused him of neglecting her needs while financially supporting his girlfriend.
In response to the mistreatment, Sindano engaged in an affair with a male friend for three months until Mulenga discovered the infidelity. Meanwhile, Mulenga resumed a relationship with his ex-wife, with whom he now has a two-month-old child. Sindano also has a three-month-old child with Mulenga. Additionally, it was revealed that Mulenga had fathered another child with a coworker.
Mulenga admitted both parties were unfaithful, accusing Sindano of having affairs with four different men, even while pregnant. He expressed his desire to end the marriage due to her continued infidelity.
The court was astonished by the extent of the couple’s behavior within just one year of marriage. Magistrate Mumba noted that both were equally at fault, highlighting the competition between them in their extramarital affairs. The court granted the divorce without compensation, but Mulenga was ordered to provide K500 monthly support for their three-month-old child, subject to yearly review.
