Luundu Mwanakasale, a Zambian woman who became paralyzed after a devastating car accident, has shared the heartbreaking story of how her fiancé abandoned her to marry another woman. In December 2014, just a day before Christmas, 24-year-old Luundu, then a teaching student, was on her way to Livingstone to try on her wedding dress when tragedy struck. Her fiancé was driving when their vehicle overturned near Monze.
While her fiancé escaped without injury, Luundu suffered a severe spinal injury that left her paralyzed from the waist down. She also lost her unborn child, who was five months along at the time. Doctors informed her she would never walk again, confining her to a wheelchair. This life-altering event occurred only a month before their planned wedding, which was ultimately postponed as she remained hospitalized.
In an interview with the Zambian publication Kalemba on October 17, Luundu revealed that she spent nearly three months in the hospital, during which her fiancé feigned support. Unbeknownst to her, three years after the accident, he had started a relationship with another woman who was able-bodied and intended to marry her. The promises of a shared future, reminiscent of the hopeful lyrics in Keri Hilson’s “Promise in the Dark,” were shattered.
Luundu’s world crumbled when she learned about her fiancé’s upcoming wedding just four days before the ceremony. “We had been together for two years before the accident, and three years after, he changed and married someone else. In total, we dated for five years. I only found out about his wedding from a friend, just days before he was to tie the knot,” she recounted.
She added, “If it weren’t for my friend, I wouldn’t have known. We were still in contact, and he kept assuring me he would marry me. After hearing the news, I called him, but he didn’t answer until three weeks after his wedding.” The betrayal plunged Luundu into deep depression, forcing her to drop out of college during her second year.
“To cope with the pain, I turned to baking. When he finally called weeks after his wedding, he asked if my bank account was still active because he was sending money to cover my hospital bills. Then he disappeared again,” Luundu shared.
In 2021, determined to reclaim her life, Luundu decided to move forward. She enrolled at Chreso University to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Education. On a recent Friday, she proudly graduated with distinction, ready to inspire young minds by teaching Civic and Religious Education, focusing on the rights and responsibilities of citizens and the importance of faith.
“I chose to rise because of the people who fought for me when I was in the hospital. During my darkest moments, I couldn’t even eat the food I prepared. I went back to school for my family, who cared for me when I was sick. I refused to let a man’s choice to pursue his happiness stop my progress,” she said.
Now 35 years old, Luundu is happily engaged to a man who loves her unconditionally and embraces her despite her disability. Her story is a powerful testament to resilience, hope, and the strength to overcome life’s toughest challenges.
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