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Freedom Mupanedemo Midlands Bureau
A Zvishavane man allegedly divorced his teenage wife after their first child developed a rare disease, which he blamed on his wife. Image Dave (25) has since taken his wife, Castina Zhou (17) to her parents in Mberengwa and has reportedly approached a mediator to recover his lobola.

In an interview, Ms Zhou, who was married to Dave at the age of 15 said trouble started when their six-months-old baby girl fell ill. She said the girl has a growth on her back, which requires an operation.

“My husband said he wanted to divorce me because he is saying the rare disease afflicting our child was a result of my parents bewitching her,” she said.
“He is saying my parents are bitter that he was yet to finish paying lobola and some money they had demanded since he married me while I was still under age. He is saying he wants part of the lobola back.”

Ms Zhou said she was now stranded after her parents also rejected her arguing that the husband should honour the lobola agreement. She said her parents were also not keen to assist her with money to take the child to hospital.

“My problem is that I am now living with a distant relative after my parents said I should go back to my husband. They are saying he should pay United Bulawayo Hospital the money it wants for the baby to be operated on, but I can’t force myself on a man who divorced me and took me back to my parents,” she said. Dave confirmed he was no longer interested in the union with Ms Zhou.

“I divorced and surrendered her back to the parents,” he said.