A 43-year-old man, Lazarus Lengwe, has been ordered to pay a K5,000 fine for insulting his 66-year-old mother-in-law, Serah Zulu, with accusations of witchcraft and prostitution.
The Matero Local Court heard that Lengwe, a resident of the Barlastone area, allegedly leveled the accusations, claiming Zulu possessed a “lilomba” and was engaging in immoral activities.
Zulu, visibly distressed, testified that Lengwe’s accusations stemmed from information he purportedly received from his Pentecostal church pastor, who alleged she harbored a “lilomba” used to torment him.
She further stated that Lengwe had not only branded her a witch and a prostitute but also threatened to kill her and her disabled husband.
According to Zulu, Lengwe utilised his mouth to spew out Nkana supporters’ befitting praise which they shower on their opponents, routinely chorusing insults and witchcraft allegations whenever he had marital disputes with her daughter.
Lengwe, in his defense, denied the existence of the “lilomba” and surprisingly attributed the origin of the accusation to Zulu’s own son.
He said it was her son who had first mentioned the lilomba and claimed that a mysterious door in her house does not open, hence, he wanted to break it,
He further claimed that his wife had temporarily left their matrimonial home to stay with her mother, alleging it was a ploy by Zulu to marry her off due to his failure to pay lobola.
“My mother-in-law always interfered, telling me that I made her daughter suffer especially because I didn’t pay lobola. She says she might marry her off somewhere,” Lengwe explained.
Corroborating her mother’s testimony, Zulu’s daughter told the court that Lengwe had consistently insulted her mother and even claimed to have been bitten on the leg by the alleged “lilomba.”
She further recounted instances of Lengwe allegedly using vulgar language towards her mother, questioning her role in their bedroom reproduction sessions.
“He tells my mum that ‘ndimwe bachipuba,’ and that he can beat her in case she has never seen an in-law who beats. He also asks her if she helps him to make love to me because he really sweats on top of me.”
“Even when I was pregnant and I decided to visit my parents, he would tell me that his not responsible for the pregnancy but my parent’s lilombas are, Lengwe’s wife testified.
Senior Magistrate Lewis Mumba, presiding over the case, ruled in favour of Zulu.
“The court believes in whatever your wife has said because you are always found with her. Also, your mother-in-law cannot come to court if there is nothing you have done to her,” he stated.
Magistrate Mumba ordered Lengwe to pay the K5,000 fine in monthly installments of K1,500.
Upon ordering him to pay the fine, Lengwe boldly stated that he would comply with the court’s orders.
However, showing further disrespect, he said his mother-in-law should use the same money as lobola for her child.
By Sharon Zulu
