A man collapsed last month when his wife of 42 years served him with a copy of the divorce petition while he was at a bar having drinks with his friends.

He says he is still suffering from shock because he cannot believe that she would have done that to him because he was the sole provider during the marriage. He believes that it her sister who lives in England who encouraged her to divorce him. He says he cannot think of any other reason.

"I was having drinks with my friends at a bar near to our home last year when my wife turned up with a process server and served me with divorce papers," he explained.

"When I read the document, I fainted because I was so shocked. I really love my wife and I cannot believe that after 42 years of marriage she wants to get rid of me. We were married from she was 22 and I was 24 and my wife has never worked. We have four children who are all adults and I made sure that I worked hard and provided for my family.

Committed adultery

"I must admit that during the early years of the marriage I made a few mistakes but my wife never left me for those mistakes. I got two women pregnant about ten years after we were married but my wife found out and she quarrelled about it but she did not end the relationship.

"My wife's sister visited us from England last year January and I heard them having discussions about relationships. I heard my sister-in-law saying to my wife that she could never live with a man who cheated on her. My wife was silent when she made the remark and I even interrupted and said if a woman really loves a man, the woman will forgive him.

"I notice that since her sister made the comment my wife moved into another bedroom and stopped cooking and washing for me. I cook for myself and pay someone to wash my clothes. She hardly speaks to me and when I try to say something pleasant to her she begins making remarks that I must stop running jokes with her and run them with my women.

"After I got the divorce paper, I went with my brother to speak to my wife to see if she would stop the divorce and see if we could make up. I was shocked when she said she was not interested in me and had never forgiven me because I had committed adultery and got the two women pregnant. She said she had made up her mind and nobody can make her change it.

"My brother suggested that I should contest the divorce but I am a bit confused as to on what basis I could do so because she is telling everybody that she is divorcing me and she did not want to have anything to do with me," he added.

There is now only one ground for divorce and it is irretrievable breakdown of marriage. Once the court finds there is no hope for reconciliation and the parties have been living separate and apart up to a year before the filing of the divorce petition, then the court will grant the petition.