admin
Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporter
HUNDREDS of women are taking their estranged lovers to court for child support with the Bulawayo Maintenance Court recording a 31 percent increase in cases since January this year compared to the same period last year.Latest statistics from the Maintenance Court indicate that 1,584 women sued their lovers for maintenance between January and June this year compared to 1,211 recorded during the same period in 2013.
In 2012, the same court recorded 845 cases within the same period. Legal experts attribute the increase in maintenance cases to the country’s economic situation and increased consciousness by women about their rights and those of their children.
“Women are now enlightened on their rights because a lot of civic society groups are doing awareness campaigns,” said a magistrate who requested anonymity for professional reasons.
“Years back women used to look after their children but in this tough economy it’s no longer possible.”
The magistrate said it was unfortunate that while the economy was tough, dodging responsibilities was not acceptable at law.
“A lot of men are not employed and are not willing to support their children. Only a few women will rush to the courts to claim maintenance before engaging men. If you see a woman dragging a man to court he would have failed dismally to provide for his child,” said the magistrate.
Justice for Children Trust community para-legal officer, Geromi Jamela, said fighting and mistrust among couples was forcing men to abandon their children. He said some men were reluctant to pay maintenance accusing their spouses or girlfriends of abusing the money and converting it to their personal use.
He added women did not understand what maintenance was for and had a tendency of using it to settle personal scores.
Last week, Bulawayo magistrate Marilyn Mutshina chastised women for demanding excessive amounts from their spouses.
She said women should not use the court to settle personal scores with their estranged lovers.
Mutshina was making a ruling in a case involving a woman who was demanding $200 from her lover for the upkeep of their nine-month-old baby saying the infant needed four pockets of potatoes per month.
The magistrate said women should understand the state of the economy before making outrageous demands just to punish men.
“We want people to be reasonable. We all know what is happening with the Zimbabwean economy. Having a child with a man doesn’t mean he has to pay you for it,” she blasted.
Legal experts say before granting a woman her maintenance demands, a magistrate considers the man’s salary and his expenses, which include rentals, bills and number of minor children.
On average, a family of six needs about $504 per month in line with the poverty datum line, which raises eyebrows when one woman demands about $200 for an infant who is not even at school.
Scores of men are feeling the heat of maintenance including prominent politicians, businessmen, musicians and senior uniformed officers.
Recently, an ex-lover to the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Cde Dzikamayi Mavhaire filed a court application demanding $1,200 monthly maintenance for the upkeep of their three-year-old child. Sungura musician Alick Macheso’s estranged second wife, Fortunate Tafadzwa Mapako, also made headlines after she demanded $7,130 for the upkeep of the couple’s two minor children.
Online Reporter