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Tanyaradzwa Mujati
Weekender Reporter
A MUTARE father is in the habit of assaulting his son for asking for his school fees, claiming that he is disrespectful and uses vulgar words to insult him in the presence of his co-workers.
This emerged at Mutare Civil Court where Belinda Masaraure was applying for maintenance from Munyaradzi Matembedza.
Masaraure was applying for US$275 for the upkeep of one child, but Matembedza refused to pay the money, claiming that he can only afford US$20, pay the child’s school fees as well as provide groceries.
Mutare magistrate, Ms Perseverance Makala presided over the matter.
Matembedza said Masaraure was denying him access to the child, hence his failure to bond with his son.
“The mother influences the child to disrespect me. I love my son and I want to bond with him, but I am failing as his mother denies me access to him. I need to support him as his father. The mother is incapable of looking after him as he is now into drugs. He needs a father figure in his life,” said Matembedza.
Matembedza also accused Masaraure of regularly assaulting the child.
“I will not give her money because of the words that come out of her mouth. She has extended the bitterness that she has over me to the child as she regularly assaults him,” he said.
He also claimed that he earns US$100 from his ‘dealings’ at Murahwa People’s Green Market and has a wife and other children to look after.
“I also have other kids who are going to school and a wife to look after. I cannot afford the money she is asking for. I have rentals to pay, both at home and at work, so I can only afford US$20 and nothing more,” said Matembedza.
In response, Masaraure said she wants US$275 to pay for the child’s school fees, feed and clothe him.
“My child is now 17 and has not been going to school because I could not afford to pay the school fees. There are arrears at Sakubva High School where he was attending school. I have resorted to transfer him to a private school where he will repeat his Form Four, so the meagre maintenance he has been constantly paying was not even enough to buy cooking oil,” said Masaraure.
She said at one time she send her son to collect his school fees from his father at his workplace, but he got more than what he had bargained for as he was terribly assaulted by Matembedza.
“He mercilessly assaulted him when he went to collect his school fees. I am surprised that he wants to bond with a child he does not care about. It is surprising how Matembedza can claim that our son is taking drugs when he is not even there for him. How can he not end up taking drugs when he is out of school as his father has neglected his parental duties of sending him to school.”
Masaraure also said Matembedza was lying that he was renting a house in Greenside as it is his personal house.
“He is staying in a four-roomed house with his family. He just does not want our child to have a decent life. His other daughter is enrolled at mission school, yet he claims that he is getting US$100 every month. He is lying just to destroy our child’s future.
“All I want is for him to send our child to a private school so that he can get better education. I have enquired with the institution and they are willing to enrol him if I pay the required money. My child also deserves a good life just like his other children,” said Masaraure.
Ms Makala ruled that Matembedza will deposit US$100 every month in Masaraure’s account until the child turns 18.
She also ordered him to pay the child’s school fees and all school related expenses.
Online Reporter