Heartbreak as Man Finds Wife Pregnant After Leaving Jail
In a story that has captured the attention of Zambia, a man from Livingstone was left devastated upon his release from prison, discovering his wife had not only moved on but also married another man during his absence.
Watson Kachenjela, 35, of Livingstone, was granted a presidential pardon on December 23, 2023, after serving just three years of a five-year sentence for possession of a protected trophy in 2021. Upon his release, he was eagerly anticipating a reunion with his wife, Abigail Mudenda, 30, but instead, he faced an emotional shock.
Kachenjela’s younger brother, Kelvin Halando, informed him that Mudenda had not only married Mabvuto Lungu, 35, of Zambezi Sawmills, but was also pregnant with his child. This revelation led Kachenjela to file a lawsuit for K95,000 in compensation, accusing Lungu of “abducting” his wife.
The court hearing took place in Livingstone Local Court A2, where Kachenjela shared the emotional details of his marriage to Mudenda, which began in 2014. Despite paying K2,700 of the agreed bride price in the form of livestock, he claims that Mudenda had left him while he was imprisoned and chose to marry another man.
In her defense, Mudenda admitted to being pregnant with Lungu’s child but denied that she was ever formally married to Kachenjela. She clarified that although Kachenjela had expressed his intention to marry her in 2014, he never paid the full bride price or formalized their marriage, even though they had continued to communicate with her family. Mudenda explained that the marital home had become too small for her and that she had moved on with her life.
Mudenda further revealed that, despite her traditional marriage to Kachenjela, she was now married to Lungu. She also offered Kachenjela a sum of K4,000 or K5,000 to help him start a new life without her, but Kachenjela rejected the offer.
On the other hand, Lungu denied knowledge of Mudenda’s previous marital status when they met. He said he was simply looking for a life partner and, after they met, proposed to Mudenda, who accepted. The couple began living together, though Lungu admitted they had not yet formalized their marriage by approaching her parents.
Senior Local Court Magistrate Fredrick Mainza observed that according to Zambian tradition, Kachenjela and Mudenda were indeed married, as her parents had given their consent. The case was adjourned to January 21, 2025, with both parties awaiting further decisions from the court.
This tragic and heart-wrenching case continues to unfold, bringing to light the complexities of relationships, traditions, and the consequences of long-term imprisonment.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing case in Livingstone, as it has already become one of the most talked-about news stories in Zambia.
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