Woman sues sister-in-law over estate

A LUSAKA woman of Nine Miles township took her sister-in-law to court after dissatisfaction with the way her late husband’s estate were being handled.
Cryvin Mwiinga, 32, stood before Senior Court Magistrate Kalunga Mwansa of the Lusaka Boma Court, complaining about the manner in which Esna Munemo was handling her late husband’s funds.

She explained that since the death of her husband in December, 2012, Munemo, who is her late husband’s younger sister, was picked by the court to be the family’s administrator.
“After she was chosen as administrator, the court advised that everything needed to be settled within 90 days,” Mwiinga shared. “From that day till today, the property has not been divided as was advised.”
Among the property left behind by Mwiinga’s late husband were two two-room flats. One flat was given to Mwiinga’s mother-in-law while Mwiinga kept the other.
There was also a five-room house which Mwiinga and her husband were living in prior to his death.
Mwiinga charged that Munemo had interfered in her plans to put her late husband’s main house on rent so that she could raise some money.
“I informed the family spokesperson about my plans to put my husband’s house on rent so that I could make money and he agreed and said he would tell the rest of the family,” she stated.
She said she was getting rentals of K500 from her other two-room flat which was not enough to cover all her expenses.
In addition to keeping four of her children as well as one of her late husband’s children, she was also taking care of some pigs that her husband had left when he died.
Not long after Mwiinga had found a tenant for her house, she said Munemo appeared while she was away and got keys from the tenant.
“She told the tenant that everything was now in her hands,” Mwiinga narrated.
But in giving her statement Munemo said she was previously unaware of Mwiinga’s frustration over her late brother’s estate.
Munemo said Mwiinga had always informed her whenever she needed money or help and was surprised to have received a court summon from her.
“I gave her K300 for her children’s school fees and K50 for shoes just last week,” Munemo stated.
She said she even advised Mwiinga to sell some of the pigs when she complained that the numbers were reducing.
Munemo also said she did not understand why Mwiinga was claiming shares when the main house she was living in was built by her brother and his first wife.
In passing judgement, the court reconciled both parties and advised them to observe all the orders directed by the court.
The court however ordered Munemo to show more responsibility as administrator.
She was given a two-month ultimatum to ensure that she was not brought to court for any family disagreement.
While she had the right to be administrator, Munemo was told she could have her position revoked if Mwiinga was still unsatisfied as the law allowed it.
The court said that whatever rent was raised from Mwiinga’s late husband’s property should benefit the surviving spouse and children.