Boy offers $3 maintenance

Victoria Falls Reporter
A HERDBOY has offered to pay $3 for the upkeep of his two-months-old son after being dragged to the maintenance court by his girlfriend.
James Mleya, 17, from Chief Mvuthu area said he has other responsibilities as he also takes care of his grandmother and younger brother whom he pays schools fees for.
Victoria Falls resident magistrate Sharon Rosemani said Mleya was an “emancipated minor” because he was no longer going to school and as such he could manage to provide for the baby.

Mleya was dragged to court by Happiness Tshuma, 19, of Dibutibu area who claimed he had abandoned her and the baby.
Mleya told the magistrate he was not the father of the baby as Tshuma broke the news about her pregnancy three days after they had had unprotected sex.

“I do not think the child is mine because she told me she was pregnant three days after we had sex. Her sister also told me that they went to a prophet who advised them to take the child to its father because whoever would take the baby as his would suffer in his life,” said Mleya.

The orphaned juvenile stays with his grandmother and survives on $40 monthly payments for herding neighbours’ cattle.
“I stopped going to school when my parents died four years ago and I dropped out of school. I have been herding goats and cattle for the past six months and I pay my young brother’s school fees and take care of my grandmother from the $40 I get per month. So I can afford to give her $3,” he said.

Mleya suggested that they have an out-of-court settlement but the magistrate ordered him to pay $20 per month for the upkeep of the son.
“Plaintiff is an emancipated minor. He has been out of school for four years and has been working which means he can make a settlement,” said Rosemani.

The court brought in Mleya’s cousin Everisto Ndlovu who testified that he was an orphan and the family also doubted he was the father of the baby.