Online Reporter
Alicia Kadzviti
Herald Reporter
A Harare woman has dragged her former partner to court, claiming US$100 in monthly maintenance for their seven-month-old baby.
Rutendo Kalinda approached the Harare Civil Court seeking US$100 per month for the upkeep of their infant.
She told the court that the child required essentials such as food, nappies, clothes and toys.
“I am only asking for what is fair and necessary to ensure my child has a healthy start in life,” she said
Mark Shambare, a member of the ZNA, offered to pay US$25, citing limited finances. He told the court that from his gross salary of US$250 plus Zig 2 000, a significant portion was going towards servicing a loan, leaving him with little disposable income.
“I have four other children with my wife, I take care of my parents, I pay rent, and I am going to school,” Shambare argued.
The case took a dramatic turn when Shambare said he previously supported the child but stopped after receiving a message from Kalinda claiming the baby was not his.
“I used to take care of the child consistently, but she once sent a message saying that the child is not mine, so I stopped giving her money,” Shambare testified.
Kalinda defended the message, saying she wrote it while she was emotional and that it was not true.
“I said the words when I was hurt and didn’t mean them,” she said.
Presiding Magistrate Hannah Fazilahamed granted a temporary maintenance order of US$30 plus Zig 700 per month, to run for three months, pending the results of a court-ordered DNA test.
The magistrate further directed that the paternity test be conducted within three months.
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