Woman, 36, sues husband for divorce on TB Joshua’s advice

She sued Saidi Banda, 49, of Kabwata township for divorce after seven years of separation.
Chilepa told the court that she got married to Banda in 1999 after he impregnated her. Her falling pregnant coincided with plans to go for further studies at a university she did not name.
She told the court that Banda advised her to abort but she refused.
“Our marriage was customary and both our relatives were there during the wedding ceremony,” said Chilepa.
She said after they got married, they were very happy until she gave birth.
“After I gave birth to a baby boy, my health has been failing me. He stopped supporting me and his son. He deserted us and does not care about our welfare,” said Chilepa.
Chilepa told the court she went as far as seeking prayers from TB Joshua, who advised her to disconnect herself from Banda as that would make her recover from her illness as well as begin having her menstrual cycle.
“This is the reason why I brought him to court. Other pastors told me the same, they said this was spiritual and it needed a lot of prayers,” she said.
Chilepa told the court that her family gave up on her because of her illness.  She said a well-wisher has offered her and her son a place to stay.
In his defence, Banda told the court that he has been financially supporting Chilepa and his son.
He told the court that he never married Chilepa.  Her family ordered him to pay K5,000 as compensation for impregnating her.
“I have been married for over 22 years and there is no way I can divorce someone who is not my wife, I’m a happily married man,” Banda said.
Banda told the court Chilepa’s family knows about the financial support he gives to her and his son and asked the court to call some of her family members to testify as witnesses.
After hearing the statements from both parties, Senior Court Magistrate Lewis Mumba adjourned the case to June 2, 2014 in order to hear statements from both families.

Zambia Daily Mail