Wife wants divorce

My wife and I are happily married until recently, when she started retrieving my pre-marriage emails and found some romantic mails with my previous girlfriend. She says that I should have told her about this before marriage. I responded that she had never asked, and that I have never communicated with the ex after marriage. She also had boyfriends, whose details I never asked on, because I believe the past is buried behind you. My wife is now seeking a divorce from me. What should I do?
20 February 2012

The Law of Marriage Act of Tanzania provides for specific grounds that can be adduced in a petition seeking divorce. For example, one cannot simply get a divorce in Tanzania by consent of the husband and wife. Some of the common grounds are cruelty, adultery and desertion. It is quite clear that you do not fall under the category of adultery assuming that you have told us the truth in that you have never met the ex after marriage. We find it hard to believe that your wife would just, out of the blue, decide to check your emails of many years before. If you are hiding anything from us, then please ignore this response. However, we continue answering your question assuming you have not concealed anything from us.

The other common ground for divorce is desertion, which we also believe does not apply in this case. Cruelty, which might apply, is also quite remote. For example, can your wife claim that you have been cruel by not disclosing your ex? We doubt it, unless there are other extraordinary circumstances that are not known to us.

All in all, we do not see how your wife’s petition will succeed on the ground as stated in your question. We suggest that you both seek counselling. It seems there might be more to your situation than meets the eye.