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Prosper Dembedza Court Reporter
A Harare woman introduced her four-month old baby to the traditional “maheu” drink because her ex-husband neglected the minor, the Civil Court heard last week.
Maheu is a non-intoxicating brew made from fermented grain and does not provide adequate nutrition for an infant.
Memory Magaya made the allegation last Friday to Harare Civil Court magistrate Ms Gamuchirai Siwardi, to whom her ex-husband Stanley Muchivenyika was making a petition for custody of their child.
Muchivenyika submitted that Magaya was failing to take proper care of the one year old child.
“I want the court to grant me custody of the minor child because Magaya is not taking good care of him. She goes to South Africa where she spends more than a month, leaving the child with a maid.”
“I want the court to grant me custody of the minor child because he is suffering in the hands of his abusive mother,” said Muchivenyika.
Magaya denied the allegations saying Muchivenyika neglected the child since he was four months old.
“This man is very heartless, he neglected his child when he was four months old.
“I suffered with the child, giving him ‘maheu’ since he refused to give me money to buy Lactogen,” she said.
Magaya said Muchivenyika was unable to take care of the child because of his abusive character. Ms Siwardi ordered the two to return to court today for judgment.
Online Reporter