WHEN prayers failed to yield the desired results of her marriage, a desperate Lusaka wife opted for an unconventional ‘Plan B,’ not that of the Tonse alliance, but one which would have made legendary Nollywood actor ‘Kanayo O Kanayo’ proud or perhaps, horrified.
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Determined to salvage her marriage, 23-year-old Alice Mbewe, a resident of Chipata compound ventured into the mystical realm, a trip to her village to seek some charms from her able grandmother, so her husband can only love her alone, but little did she know that her desperate measures would backfire in spectacular fashion, threatening not only the union but also her husband’s life.
It is reported that her husband, John Phiri, 30, nearly made Yo Map’s funeral track “Muniposheleko Sata” a personal anthem, as he nearly joined the ranks of the departed souls kuchalo chamaluba.
This is in a case initiated by Mbewe before the Matero Local Court, who sought divorce from her husband, citing unstoppable misunderstandings in their marriage.
It was revealed that Mbewe was mistreating Phiri’s young child whom he had with another woman before he married her in 2018, as she would force the child to wake up as early as 06:00 hours, to fetch water and do household chores while Mbewe herself slept peacefully in her bed.
It was for this reason that Phiri implored Mbewe to return to her village and engage in a heart-to-heart discussion with her parents, believing that the counsel and wisdom of her elders might help her realise the error in her ways and steer her towards a more compassionate approach to parenting.
Mbewe then returned from the village, carrying a dubious gift from her grandmother, charms that were seemingly meant to boost Phiri’s wheelbarrow business but unfortunately, the supposed good luck charms backfired, triggering a chain of events that saw Phiri fall gravely ill, bringing the family to the brink of disaster and hinting at the sinister motives behind the charms.
Phiri testified that the next day upon Mbewe’s return, she prepared a meal of rice for him to eat which he claimed had some charms in it.
It turned into a harrowing ordeal, as he began to experience symptoms that included sleeplessness, vomiting, and severe diarrhea, leading him to suspect that he had contracted the highly contagious and potentially deadly cholera.
As fate would have it, one day while reaching for his clothes in the wardrobe, he accidentally knocked over his wife’s bag, causing it to spill its contents onto the floor and among the scattered belongings, he discovered a plastic bag containing charms, instantly linking them to the recent decline in his health.
“I was shocked and enraged when I found out my wife had charms hidden away. When I confronted her, she claimed that her grandmother had instructed her to give them to me to improve my business, but I was deeply skeptical of her story. I think there’s more to this than meets the eye; I can’t help but feel like there’s a sinister motive behind her actions,” he lamented.
“I completely agree that our marriage should be dissolved. How can I continue living with a woman who has cast charms on me, knowing that they could threaten my life? My children need me, I won’t risk my life staying in this marriage,” Phiri declared.
But Mbewe maintained that the charms were intended for Phiri’s benefit and had been brought home with the purest of intentions.
“The charms were meant to increase my husband’s customer base and by extension, his income. They were never meant to harm him in any way,” argued Mbewe.
And presiding over the case, Magistrate Harriet Mulenga rebuked Mbewe’s actions, stating that it’s a disgrace that a young woman like her would turn to witchcraft to solve her marital problems.
“Only God can provide real guidance and strength in a marriage, not charms. You are young, you have a lot of growing up to do. Do not let charms be the answer to your problems,” she cautioned.
“If you truly loved your husband and wanted to strengthen your marriage, you would have been honest with him about the charms. Instead, you tried to deceive him, and now you’ve hurt your marriage and yourself. Your grandmother is leading you astray. Go back to school, learn, and start a new life.”
Meanwhile, no compensation was awarded to either parties.
By Sharon Zulu
Kalemba August 20, 2025
