Online Reporter
Sharon Jiyamwa
Herald Reporter
THE Harare Civil Court has ordered a man to pay US$100 per months in maintenance for his 15-year-old child after rejecting his offer of US$20.
The child’s grandmother, Lucia Ndofani, represented the teenager in the maintenance proceedings, explaining that the child’s mother, who is deaf and mute, was unable to navigate the legal process herself.
Ndofani sought US$240 per month from the child’s father, Lovemore Desha, arguing that he should make a meaningful contribution towards the child’s upkeep despite her not knowing his exact income.
Desha opposed the application, citing financial constraints and producing birth certificates for his wife and three other children to support his claim that he could only afford US$20 per month.
The court, however, stressed that the legal duty to maintain a child rests with the biological parents and that the grandmother had no legal obligation to provide financial support.
After considering the needs of the 15-year-old and Desha’s financial responsibilities, the presiding magistrate ordered him to pay US$100, or the equivalent in ZiG, per month with effect from August 31, 2026, until the child reaches the age of 18.
I think this maintenance should have been back-dated to the day the child was born if the father was not maintaining her.