adminGibson Mhaka
FATHERHOOD takes more than impregnating women.
A married Bulawayo-based male nurse got this rude awakening when another child support lawsuit was piled on him when he was already paying two other mothers of his a�?first bornsa�?.
Kundai Mabigana (30) from Khami Prison Staff Cottage has children with Colletta Dzingira, Hazel Togara, a teacher and Hleziphi Moyo, a nurse stationed at St Lukea��s Hospital. All this was revealed when he disputed a $160 per month child support claim from Moyo. Mabigana said he was also paying child support for two other children and so could not afford the amount. A precedent was set when Dzingira and Togara whose suits are case numbers M1335 /15 and M1820 /15 were each awarded a monthly maintenance of $30 and $50 for their children.Moyo in her suit filed under case number M2029 /16A� begged the court to compel Mabigana to provide reasonable support towards the upkeep of his six-year-old son.
a�?I am seeking a monthly maintenance of $160 for the child from the respondent in terms of the Maintenance Act (Chapter 5:09) to cover school fees, groceries, medical expenses, clothing, rent among other expenses.
a�?The respondent (Mabigana) is the responsible person legally liable to maintain the under mentioned dependant (the child) since he is employed by Ministry of Health and Child Care as a nurse,a�? reads part of her submissions. In response Mabigana however, disputed Moyoa�?s claims before he offered $20 as monthly maintenance saying he was also paying maintenance for his other two children born out of wedlock.
a�?I cana��t afford the money which she is claiming and I am offering $20 since I have five other children I am taking care of. I am respectively paying a monthly maintenance of $50 and $30 for my two other children,a�? said Mabigana.
In her ruling the presiding magistrate Evylene Mashavakure however, ordered Mabigana to contribute $48 towards the upkeep of his son after taking into consideration the fact that he was also paying maintenance for two other children and that Moyo was also a woman of means as she is gainfully employed as a nurse.
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Online Reporter