Father of five offers $20 maintenance

Yemurai Ushamba,Chronicle Reporter
A 28-YEAR-OLD unemployed man who stays with his parents has sired five children with different women and is failing to take care of them.

This emerged when Ms Nomthandazo Ndlovu dragged Mlungisi Nsikani to court demanding $95 for the upkeep of their two minor children aged six years and two weeks old.

“I am a vendor and I realise about $30 a month. I have been taking care of the children alone. I am requesting $95 for the upkeep of my children,” she said. Nsikani offered $20 for the upkeep of the two minor children.

“I am unemployed and I depend on my parents. When we were staying together she was the one who was supporting me and the children. She chased me away after she got tired of me and I am now staying with my parents. I have three other children who stay at my rural home. At the moment I can afford $20 for child support,” he said.

Ms Ndlovu rejected the offer.

“Your worship, $20 is too little for two children. The first born is going to school. He needs school fees, uniform and stationery. I know he has three other children but he has to increase the amount he is offering,” she said. Bulawayo magistrate Miss Rachel Mukanga ordered Nsikani to pay $50 for the upkeep of two children.

“At your age you are sitting and doing nothing yet you have five children. How do you expect your children to survive? Twenty dollars is not enough for two children. You are ordered to pay $50 for the upkeep of two minor children from June 30, 2018,” she said. — @YUshamba