Online Reporter
Takudzwa Mangrozah
Herald Reporter
A HARARE woman, Tendai Machokoto, walked out of the Harare Civil Court with a broad smile after having her application for an upward variation of maintenance granted.
Machokoto approached the court seeking an increase in maintenance from 65 Bond set in 2015 to US$200 for their child, who was four years old at the time.
She told the court that she worked as a vendor and earned about US$40 per month, adding that she required the money to cover the child’s school fees, rent, food and other basic needs.
Machokoto also claimed that the respondent, Trymore Juware, earned about US$300 per month.
In response, Juware told the court that he could only afford US$55, explaining that he was a soldier who earned about US$260 and ZiG 4 000 per month.
He said the amount requested by Machokoto was too high given his financial circumstances and added that he also supports another family with two children.
Machokoto, however, maintained that the respondent had not meaningfully contributed towards the child’s upkeep since birth.
She told the court that the US$55 he offered would only cover school fees and transport costs, leaving other essential expenses unmet.
In her ruling, Magistrate Ms Johanna Mukwesha ordered the respondent to pay US$60 per month in maintenance, noting that he also has other children to support.
Ms Mukwesha ruled that the needs of the child must be balanced with the respondent’s financial obligations.
