A 55-YEAR-OLD civil servant of Lusaka says he is not legally obliged to share any property with a woman with whom he shares four children because they were merely cohabiting for 25 years.

And Magistrate Lewis Mumba has advised women to avoid cohabiting with men and ensure that they pay something for dowry, no matter how little the amount is, to avoid such problems. The Matero Local Court heard that during the 25 years the couple was together, acquired three farms, a house and a car.

This is in a matter where Amina Musonda, 49, a businesswoman of Garden House Township sued Agrippa Lulenda, 55, of Chinika area, so that the court could help them share the property they acquired.