Online Reporter
Alicia Kadzviti
Herald Reporter
A WOMAN from Harare has secured an upward variation in child maintenance after the court ordered her former husband to pay US$80 plus ZiG2 000 up from US$60 plus ZiG900.
Elizabeth Bokosho had appeared before Harare Civil Court magistrate Hannah Fazilahmed seeking a review of the fees paid by her ex-husband, Andrew Bokosho, to US$150 plus ZiG5 000 for the upkeep of their three children.
Elizabeth had argued that the children’s expenses had increased, especially after their firstborn began high school.
“One of our children is now in high school and the school fees have increased,” she told the court.
“Food is no longer enough, and I am the one who buys clothes alone.”
She outlined the children’s educational costs, stating that the first child’s school fees are US$124 plus US$72 for transport, the second pays US$110 plus US$60 transport, and the youngest requires US$90 in fees.
Andrew Bokosho opposed the application, insisting that his income had not changed.
“I can only afford to keep paying the same amount of US$60 plus ZiG900,” said Andrew.
He added that he is a soldier earning US$250 plus ZiG5 000 and has two other children.
“I have two other children, aged 17 and 15, who are still in school,” he said.
Elizabeth disputed this, accusing him of misleading the court.
“His other children are 21 and 19 and are no longer minors, and he earns about US$900, not what he is claiming,” she said.
Andrew clarified that US$900 was not a fixed monthly salary but his earnings for every quarter and as such could not be used to determine how much he should pay monthly.
Magistrate Fazilahmed ordered Andrew to pay US$80 plus ZiG2 000 monthly. The two will share the children’s school fees equally.
