By 
A 52-year-old woman, Sylvia Mutaba, has told the Lusaka High Court that she did not inform her in-laws about the death of her husband, George Kalaba, because they had long shown no concern for him or their family.
Mutaba, of Luangwa Garden compound, said she kept her husband’s body in their matrimonial home and continued praying with her children, believing he would come back to life.
The unemployed mother of four stood calmly in the accused box as she recounted how she and Kalaba had lived together for 30 years.
Read more: Mutaba and co-accused plead not guilty in alleged case of murdering husband
She maintained that she deeply loved her husband and never imagined he would die so suddenly.
Mutaba testified that Kalaba’s illness began in June 2023, when he started complaining of headaches and chest pains.
Despite her pleas, he refused to go to the hospital, insisting that prayer would heal him.
She said she informed his relatives, including his elder brother, Danny, and niece Eunice, about his deteriorating health, but they showed little concern.
“From the time I married GK, his family never loved me or my children,” she said.
Mutaba recalled that on November 21, 2023, her husband appeared weak but still asked for porridge.
“I went to prepare it in the kitchen, and when I came back, it was already too late. He had died,” she said quietly.
She admitted that she did not tell anyone about his death, explaining,
“I just closed the bedroom door and continued praying with my children. I believed he would wake up.”
When asked why she had remained silent, Mutaba said her in-laws had never helped the family.
“Even now, they collect money from the house but don’t support my children,” she added.
She told the court that police only discovered her husband’s remains on January 14, 2025, after one of his friends, identified as Mutale, reported his prolonged absence.
She confirmed that she initially refused to allow officers into the house when they arrived.
During cross-examination, Mutaba denied claims that she had blocked her husband’s friends from visiting or calling, saying any failed communication was due to power outages caused by load-shedding.
The matter has been adjourned to November 21 for continued hearing.
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