The once fairytale-like romance between two renowned diplomats and journalists, Maureen Nkandu and Cosmas Chileshe, has ended in a bitter divorce. After six years of marriage, Maureen has filed for divorce, citing an irreparable breakdown in their relationship.
The couple’s love story was once hailed as a triumph over adversity. Cosmas Chileshe, a former first press secretary at the Zambian High Commission in Washington DC, had faced intense backlash when he left his wife to marry Maureen, a respected journalist and international diplomat. Despite the criticism, the couple fought for their love and opted for a civil union. However, it seems that the challenges they faced were too much to overcome, as their relationship has now come to an end.
Maureen, who serves as the Under-Secretary General for Public Relations at an inter-governmental organization, has petitioned for divorce, marking the end of their six-year marriage. In her petition, filed at the Lusaka High Court, Maureen explained that the couple had fallen out of love beyond reconciliation and had lived apart for two years.
The couple married on June 6, 2018, at the Lusaka Civic Centre, with Maureen marrying Chileshe, a divorcee. They last lived together as husband and wife in Lusaka, at Plot 609/E/77/A/158, Foxdale, Chamber Valley. Currently, Maureen resides in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, while Chileshe remains in Zambia.
During their marriage, Maureen did not bear any children for Chileshe, although she has three children from previous relationships. Chileshe, on the other hand, has six children from his prior marriage.
In her petition, Maureen confirmed that there are no ongoing proceedings in any other country regarding their marriage. She also stated that no agreement or arrangement had been made between her and Chileshe for the support of either party or their children. She concluded that the marriage had broken down irretrievably and prayed for its dissolution.
Chileshe has agreed to the dissolution of the marriage and has consented to the divorce. Both parties have requested custody of their respective children.
The end of Maureen Nkandu and Cosmas Chileshe’s marriage marks the conclusion of a high-profile union that once captured the public’s imagination. Despite the challenges they faced, their story now serves as a reminder that not all love stories, no matter how promising, have a fairytale ending.
