A 42-year-old woman from Lusaka’s Garden Compound has lost her husband after he decided to end their 24-year marriage — not because of anything she did in real life, but due to a betrayal he witnessed in a dream.
For several weeks, 44-year-old Charles Sakala was haunted by a recurring nightmare in which his wife, Mirriam Banda, appeared unfaithful. In the dream, she was intimately involved with another man, the scenes so vivid that they tormented Sakala every night.
According to Banda, Sakala took the dream seriously and eventually left their home. He walked out without a word, leaving her and their three children behind for six months. “He was tired of eating from the same honeypot for 24 years,” she told the Matero Local Court.
Banda explained that Sakala returned not with an apology, but with a firm decision to divorce. He accused her of cheating with a man who had shown romantic interest at the shop where she sells spices.
The situation reportedly worsened after Sakala purchased a car. Banda claimed this was when he began entertaining other women, marking a turning point in their marriage. Sakala, however, insisted that his dream had become a prophecy, guiding him to act in real life.
He also claimed to have “caught” his wife at her shop with the man pursuing her. He said he had warned her about other men, but she ignored his advice. “The only thing I expected from her was to stay in a chill mode, which she didn’t,” Sakala told the court.
Despite Banda’s pleas, Sakala remained resolute. He insisted the marriage must end, and no explanation could change his mind.
Senior Magistrate Lewis Mumba heard both sides and granted the divorce. The magistrate noted Sakala seemed to have already moved on, but ordered that Banda receive K12,000 in compensation and that the house remain in the children’s name.
The unusual case highlights how personal perceptions, even dreams, can lead to real-life consequences. For Banda, who spent over two decades building a family, the dream became a painful reality.
The divorce has sparked discussion in Lusaka about whether dreams should influence life-altering decisions. Banda now faces the challenge of rebuilding her life and caring for her children while Sakala pursues a future guided by visions from the night.
