adminThandeka Moyo Court Correspondent
A MARRIED visually-impaired man who sired a child out of wedlock and kept it a secret for eight years has been exposed in court.
George Moyo was dragged before Bulawayo magistrate Victor Mpofu on Wednesday after his former mistress, Pamela Sibanda, filed for maintenance.
Moyo begged Mpofu to give him time to “reveal” the secret child to his unsuspecting wife.
“There is no way I can raise the $170 that she’s claiming,” he pleaded. “I’m unemployed and blind, so I can’t guarantee that I will raise any amount of money.”
Moyo said he wished “there could be something I can do for my daughter”, but added: “I’ve been evicted from the premises I’ve been using for business because I’ve failed to raise $7,112 that I’m owing, therefore I can’t offer anything.”
Sibanda interjected and asked Moyo to take custody of the child if he was not willing to contribute anything towards her upkeep.
“This man has been taking advantage of me for a very long time,” she told the magistrate. “I know he has other means of business. He should pay maintenance or take the child. I’ve tried everything to make him contribute but he dodges me and I can longer cope.”
In response, Moyo said he was a shy person and asked the magistrate to consider his ordeal in his judgement.
“I’m a shy person and I will need to explain to my wife that I sired this child secretly eight years ago. I need time Your Worship,” he pleaded.
“I don’t have a problem with the court giving me custody of my daughter. I know she owes school fees, but since I lost sight in 2010, it has been difficult for me to do anything.”
Sibanda insisted on her claim: “The problem with him is that he makes false promises. I once suggested we register the child with organisations that deal with disadvantaged children and he kept postponing until I lost hope.”
Magistrate Mpofu excused himself for a while so he could decide on their seemingly complicated case. He later ordered them to register the child with child support organisations.
“The application is dismissed because Moyo lacks means. Both parties are advised to seek for benefits earmarked for children with disabled parents to at least cater for the child’s fees since Moyo is a blind person,” magistrate Mpofu said.
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