A NDOLA man of Twapia Township on the Copperbelt has been taken to court by his mother in law for hurling ‘Why Me’ insults at her, coupled with some Chishimba Kambwili Bemba proverbs every time he visits her home.
The Kabushi Local Court heard that John Chalwe who frequents his in-law’s home to have a glimpse of his ex wife, this time around visited for a different purpose – to ask if he could take the son he shares with the ex to see some of his relatives.
However, the request was not granted because Chalwe looked intoxicated and the ex thought it would be inappropriate to hand over a baby to a drunk.
Like a politician after failed elections, that response did not sit well with Chalwe who instead of humbling himself before the woman he once chewed, ended up grabbing the baby from her arms.
This prompted the mother-in-law and grandmother to the baby, Noreen Chungu to attempt interceding for her daughter, Chalwe’s ex wife.
Instead of cooling the situation, the altercation escalated, leading the son in law to offer a fully fledged biology lecture on his in law, undressing her with Kitwe generated insults while describing her private parts and those of his ex as accurate as a gynaecologist.
Chungu, who could neither deal with the son-in-law, verbally nor physically, opted to take him to court where she fortunately won the case against him.
She complained that Chalwe humiliated her in the presence of her neighbours and damaged her reputation in the community.
“This is not the first time. He insults me every time he comes to see the child, who he doesn’t even support,” she said.
“I said no to him taking the baby because he does not even support the child, so what right does he have over the child he does not support?”
Chalwe was ordered to pay Chungu a K800 in installments starting with a K200 for the damage caused.
He however denied ever visiting the woman’s home for anything, stating that he did not remember ever undertaking such a visit to her in-law’s bogade.
The case was heard before senior magistrate Paul Kayula, Emeldah Maduma and John Kabwe.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, November 3, 2025
