adminTedious Manyepo Herald Reporter
A Zimbabwe Institute of Diplomacy debt collector on Monday left the Harare Civil Courts a disappointed person after her maintenance bid was dismissed for lack of merit.
Precious Munongi was demanding $300 per month for her two minor children aged one and two from her husband, Titus Sanangurayi.
“I am a debt collector with the Zimbabwe Institute of Diplomacy and I earn $185 per month. I want this honourable court to compel this man to part with $300 per month for the upkeep of our two minor children,” she claimed.
Sanangurayi, however, said he has been providing reasonable maintenance for his children and was shocked why his wife had approached the courts to claim money for their upkeep.
“I am offering nothing towards her claims. I am a very responsible father who always sees to it that my children are well looked after. I go with her to buy groceries every month end. I even live with the children and she only took them recently for the purposes of claiming maintenance.
“I have two other children besides the ones in question whom I also look after. Honestly, I cannot see any reasonable grounds for her to drag me before the courts for the purposes of claiming maintenance because I provide everything for the family,” he said.
Asked by presiding magistrate Ms Yeukai Dzuda to confirm Sanangurayi’s sentiments, Munongi did not object but said she wanted more money than the amount her husband was currently spending on the kids.
Said Ms Dzuda: “Maintenance is only claimed in the event that the part at fault is not providing for his/her children. But in your case, the respondent is providing for the children in question. You have even confirmed what the respondent is saying therefore your application for maintenance is hereby dismissed.”
Meanwhile, a Domboshawa assistant builder, Erick Sanateu, will fork out $100 every month towards the upkeep of his five minor children.
Sanateu was accused of neglecting his children aged 17, 15, 13, six and two years by his wife Memory Gotsi, who demanded $250 per month for their upkeep.
In response, Sanateu argued that he was unemployed and offered to commit $30 per month for all of them.
“Your Worship, I earn just $25 per month from piece jobs since I am not formally employed. I can only manage $30 per month for all the five children,” he said. The presiding magistrate set the figure at $100 per month.
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