Husband sent to prison for damaging wife’s certificates

The Jenda First Grade Magistrate Court has sentenced 33-year-old Stedyman Mvula to 2 years imprisonment for malicious damage after he tore his wife’s academic and professional certificates.

The court, through State Prosecutor Sub Inspector Patrick Lungu, heard that on June 11, 2026 Mvula went to his wife’s house at Chankhomi Primary School, where she teaches, to resolve a family dispute.

After an argument over a missing scumber, he entered the house and tore six of his wife’s certificates, then left.Lungu told the court the victim later found the certificates torn inside an envelope on June 22.

He added that Mvula had been harassing his wife, including hacking her phone and WhatsApp, due to suspicions of infidelity. Because of fear, the victim had been keeping her belongings at her mother’s house.

Mvula pleaded not guilty.

The state paraded four witnesses and he was convicted.

In mitigation, Mvula asked for leniency, citing responsibility for his grandparents, wife and children.

Lungu asked for a stiff sentence, saying the act was gender-based violence that caused trauma and financial loss, as replacing the certificates would be costly and difficult.

First Grade Magistrate Ezekiel Kantikana agreed, noting the damage was serious and sentenced Mvula to 2 years 6 months IHL.Mvula comes from Makina Village, T/A Wimbe, Kasungu District.