Online Reporter
Tendai Vambe
Weekender Reporter
FORMER Mutare South legislator, Jeffrey Ngome, appeared before the civil court after his former partner, Moreen Chitera, sought an upward variation of child maintenance, arguing that the existing monthly contribution was no longer adequate to meet their child’s growing needs.
Chitera applied for an increase in maintenance from US$150 to US$290 per month for their three-year-old child.
However, Mutare magistrate, Ms Sarah Kanyenze, dismissed the application, leaving the existing maintenance order unchanged.
In her submissions, Chitera said the child’s expenses had risen significantly as the youngster approached school-going age.
“My concern is that the child needs to enrol at pre-school. The US$150 is not enough for everything that the child needs,” she said.
She argued that she is struggling to meet the child’s needs on her own and wanted Ngome to shoulder a greater share of the financial responsibility.
Chitera also raised concerns over the child’s lack of a birth certificate, alleging that Ngome had refused to facilitate the acquisition of the document since the child’s birth.
“He has refused to get the child’s birth certificate,” she said.
To support her application, Chitera claimed Ngome had the financial capacity to pay the increased maintenance, citing his business interests, investments and opportunities she alleged he gained during his tenure as a Member of Parliament.
“He is a businessman. He makes more than US$1 000 and sometimes US$2 000. He has funds and was exposed to a lot of business opportunities when he was a Member of Parliament. He has investments, so he has money,” she said.
Chitera further accused Ngome of failing to adequately support the child, leaving her to carry most of the financial burden.
“He does not take care of the child. I am the one who is struggling with everything. The US$150 is no longer enough for the child’s needs,” she said.
In response, Ngome rejected the allegations and maintained that his financial circumstances had changed dramatically.
The former MP said he had returned to Zimbabwe from South Africa after being affected by xenophobic attacks and is no longer earning what Chitera believed him to be earning.
“I had previously informed her about my financial difficulties, but she continued demanding US$290 and threatening to drag me to court,” said Ngome.
He alleged that Chitera frequently threatened legal action whenever disagreements arose over matters involving the child, including school-related expenses and obtaining a birth certificate.
“I came back from South Africa after being affected by xenophobia. I told her about my situation, but she demanded US$290 and is always threatening me that she will come to court whenever there is an issue involving the child,” he said.
Ngome said the repeated threats of litigation had become emotionally draining.
“It is painful. She is always threatening me,” he said.
He also dismissed assertions that his former position as an MP meant he still enjoyed substantial financial resources.
“Yes, I am a former MP, but I only served one term,” he said.
Addressing claims about a farm allegedly cited by Chitera as part of his assets, Ngome said the property belonged to the family and is not generating income.
“The farm is a family farm and there is no activity taking place there,” he said.
He further denied operating any profitable business capable of sustaining the proposed increase in maintenance.
“There is no business. I cannot afford what she is demanding,” he said.
Although he opposed the application, Ngome said he remained committed to supporting his child under the current arrangement.
After considering submissions from both parties, Ms Kanyenze dismissed Chitera’s application, meaning Ngome will continue paying US$150 per month in child maintenance.
