adminPatient Sibanda Court Reporter—
A POLICE officer yesterday stunned a court in Bulawayo when he offered his entire salary as maintenance for his three-year-old child. Gamuchirai Blessing Nerwande had dragged Justice Musharu, a police officer stationed at Fort Rixon, to the Maintenance Court demanding $180. Musharu told magistrate Manasa Musiiwa that his wife was demanding too little to cater for their child’s needs.
“Your Worship I offer my whole salary as maintenance for my child. I’m not happy with her demanding $180. That amount is too little for my one and only son. I’m a police officer realising about $493 per month. I’ll be happy if my child gets my entire salary,” he said.
Nerwande told the magistrate that Musharu had neglected his child.
“He has many debts. I’m not accepting his offer. I want $180. It’ll be enough for my child. He’s offering his salary because he knows that he has debts all over the place. I’m not accepting his offer,” she said.
Magistrate Musiiwa ordered Musharu to pay $180 for the upkeep of his minor child. He described Musharu’s offer as a mockery after his payslip showed he had a net salary of $99 per month.
“The court has considered the applicant’s request. The applicant has applied for $180. The respondent in turn mockingly offered $493, but from his pay slip there is a net salary of $99,24. The court therefore orders the respondent to pay $180 per month with effect from April,” Magistrate Musiiwa said.
derick.khumalo