adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A 72-YEAR-OLD Plumtree woman has dragged her 78-year-old husband to court for failing to provide for her. Percy Hanyane of Gwambe area in Bulilima was in November last year ordered to pay a maintenance fee of $100 a month towards the upkeep of his wife, Elizabeth Hanyane.
Elizabeth told the court that her husband had failed to adhere to this instruction as he had abandoned her.
She told the court that she was now living separately with her husband of 50 years as he had married a woman younger than her.
“My husband was ordered to pay a maintenance fee towards my upkeep last year but he is not doing that. The reason why I sought this maintenance in the first place was because he had neglected me yet I am his wife.
“I left our homestead early last year because my husband had married a younger woman and he brought her to our house after pointing out that he needed a younger woman. He also has another wife who lives in a neighbouring community,’’ said Elizabeth.
She said since being issued with a court order, her husband had only been giving her part of the money.
Elizabeth said the amount was hardly enough to cater for her needs such as medical costs.
She said her husband had sent all their children through school and she now expected him to look after her as she was his responsibility.
Percy who is a former teacher said he could not afford to maintain his wife as he was paying school fees for his two children who were in primary school and another who was attending secondary school.
He said he was earning a pension of $210 per month which was hardly enough to cater for his responsibilities.
Percy appealed to the court to lower his maintenance fee from $100 to $50 so that he could look after his families.
He pointed out that since being given the court order in November last year he had been depositing $50 into his wife’s account as that was the amount that he could afford.
“I have three children who are in school and my wife knows that. I also have a responsibility of providing food for my families and with the money I am earning it means that I will have to give my wife half of my salary.
“She is just being unreasonable and she wants to punish me. It would be fair for everyone if I gave her $50 per month,’’ he said.
The elderly couple presented their case before Plumtree magistrate, Mr Livard Philemon who ordered Percy to pay a maintenance fee of $50 towards the upkeep of his wife.
Online Reporter