By 
Lusaka businessman, Francis Muchemwa, alias Commander 2, faces a divorce petition from his wife, Totiwe Tembo, who has alleged physical, verbal and mental abuse.
Tembo has submitted to the Lusaka High Court that her husband, whom she married in 2013, has not only been abusive but also threatening to end her life.
She wants dissolution of the marriage and custody of their two children aged 10 and five.
According to a divorce petition filed on August 9,2023, Tembo said the two got married on January 12, 2013, at the Registrar’s office, Lusaka Civic Centre.
Muchemwa, a Patriotic Front (PF) party member, has two other children born outside their marriage, aged 14 and 15, who live with their respective mothers.
The petitioner, a Zesco employee, alleged that the husband uses abusive language to the extent of calling her a prostitute.
She said their home environment was so toxic that she started having sucidial thoughts before she moved out in May.
“The respondent has no respect, love and affection for the petitioner, such that he shouts and ridicules her in the presence of other people. Not too long ago, they had a marital dispute at their then matrimonial home, the respondent verbally abused and beat up the petitioner in front of her elder brother and domestic workers as this was happening during the day.
“The petitioner was in pains and she felt embarrassed and disgraced, although she did not report the incident to the police, she however, managed to get some over the counter medicines for pain relief,” she stated.
Tembo said Muchemwa has been falsely accusing her of having an extra-marital affair with his best-friend which caused her mental torture in that the respondent had no evidence whatsoever regarding his allegations.
“His baseless and unreasonable insecurities have affected the petitioner’s self-esteem, productivity at work and unstable mental health which has on several occasions led her into depression. The petitioner is fearful and works under stress not knowing what other threatening actions the respondent will take,” she bemoaned.
She added, “that the petitioner keeps on shifting from one place of residence to another the moment she learns that the respondent has knowledge about where she is living.
Tembo said she was on July 15, physically assaulted by Muchemwa at her residence, that she had to seek refuge at her neighbour’s house.
“The respondent has of late been making false social media publications stating that the petitioner wants him dead when its actually the one who has been issuing murder threats stating that he will later commit suicide as he has nothing to lose. Further, the petitioner is in possession of video recordings, audio recordings and other electronic evidence to prove the respondent’s unreasonable behavior at the trial of the matter,” she said.
Muchemwa is also facing criminal proceedings before the Lusaka Magistrate Court for six counts of possessing property worth over K12 million and allegedly obtaining money through pecuniary advantages.
He is also jointly charged with his companies, Friltech Networks Zambia Limited and Altitude Properties Limited, with failure to comply with the provisions of the Income Tax Act contrary to Section 99 (f) as read with Section 98 of the Income Tax Act Chapter 323 of the Laws of Zambia.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments