In the perspective of a couple celebrating two years of togetherness, their connection is rooted in the depth of their hearts rather than the disparity in their ages.
Alphonse’s marital journey began in 1954 at the age of 24 when he wedded his first wife, with whom he had seven children. After decades of companionship, his first wife passed away due to old age, leaving Alphonse, now in his octogenarian years, bereaved and solitary as his grown children had moved on. Struggling with daily tasks at his advanced age, Alphonse sought companionship and assistance.
Although not formally married, Alphonse crossed paths with Chibalonza, a 20-year-old woman at the time who was eager to be his life partner. Despite lacking official documentation, they underwent a traditional wedding, marked by Alphonse presenting a crate of beer and a live goat to Chibalonza’s family.
Expressing concerns about his offspring’s potential reactions to their age-dissimilar union, Alphonse is untroubled by such uncertainties. His primary lamentation revolves around the financial constraints preventing him from securing a separate home for Chibalonza, away from his first family.
Currently pregnant, Chibalonza’s impending childbirth is seen as a precursor to a formal marriage ceremony, as Alphonse plans to organize one once the baby arrives. The unconventional nature of their relationship has raised eyebrows, considering that all of Alphonse’s children are older than their stepmother, with the eldest being 66 years old and the youngest at 50.
Despite his current frailty and financial struggles, Alphonse reminisces about his prosperous past when he ran a successful wholesale store selling beer. Unfortunately, the business faced closure due to a series of robberies that depleted his inventory and rendered it unsustainable.
