Online Reporter
Alicia Kadzviti
Herald Reporter
A Harare man has been ordered to pay a monthly maintenance fee of US$100 for the upkeep of his two children after the court ruled that the US$60 he had offered was inadequate.
Itai Chikepe appeared before the Harare Civil Court after his former partner, Deliwe Shana, applied for maintenance fee of US$200 per month for the upkeep of their two children, aged 17 and 14.
Shana told the court that the money was mainly required for school-related expenses. She said that the first-born child is sitting for Ordinary Level examination this year and requires registration fees.
She said that the second child has just started Form One, which has further increased the financial burden to her.
“The oldest child is writing his final exams and the younger one started high school this year, meaning money has to be topped up,” she said.
Chikepe offered to pay US$60 per month, claiming that although he had previously been providing for the children, he was no longer coping financially after losing his job.
He argued that Shana had unilaterally enrolled the children in private schools of her choice.
“I lost my job. I cannot afford to pay the money she is claiming,” he said.
Shana defended her decision to change schools, telling the court that the school Chikepe had initially chosen lacked basic standards, with pupils wearing casual clothes and bringing chairs from home daily.
She said the school charged US$240 per term and Chikepe was not paying fees consistently, forcing her to cover the costs.
She accused Chikepe of making empty promises and failing to support the children meaningfully, adding that he only communicates with them through the phone.
Chikepe told the court that since he lost his job, he had resorted to vending, selling tomatoes and airtime, earning about US$30 per month.
He said he relocated from Harare to Gweru, where the cost of living was cheaper.
He said that he has other children whom he also supports.
“I have four other children aged 18, 16, and one in Grade 1 who are depending on me,” he said.
He claimed that he had been the one catering for the children while Ms Shana was in South Africa and produced receipts to support his claim. Chikepe alleged that Shana denies him access to the children.
“I am not allowed to visit them at their grandmother’s house. I can only see them at school,” he said.
Chikepe accused Shana of seeking an expensive lifestyle she could not afford and creating conflict as a result.
He further told the court that the younger child only obtained a birth certificate at the age of 13 to enable him to sit for Grade Seven examinations, alleging that this raised questions about the child’s paternity.
After hearing submissions from both parties, presiding Magistrate, Ms Hannah Fazilahmed, granted maintenance for US$100 per month.
She said the court did not believe that Chikepe is earning US$30 since he has several other children that he is supporting.
The magistrate advised Chikepe to work harder, noting that he has a total of five children. In addition, he was ordered to contribute 50 percent towards all school requirements.
