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A 47-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man has learnt the hard way that fatherhood is not a subscription you cancel when life gets inconvenient.
Peter Mlotshwa of Mthombothemba in Matabeleland North, found himself in court after being dragged there by his ex-wife for failing to pay maintenance for his two minor children, showing that grown-up irresponsibility can land you behind bars faster than any nightclub brawl.
Mlotshwa appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Vimbai Chirai, where he pleaded guilty to failing to support his own children. The court did not laugh at his excuses and promptly remanded him in custody until today.
His ex-wife, Chiedza Mapanfa, said she had had enough of empty promises and unpaid six months of child upkeep.
Prosecutor Joseph Rugara told the court that back in February 2025, the Bulawayo Magistrates Court issued a clear maintenance order under case number Byo M113/ 25. The order instructed Mlotshwa to pay US$80 per month towards the upkeep of his two minor children.
The amount was not a luxury figure. It was meant for school basics, food and survival. But from July to December 2025, Mlotshwa allegedly paid nothing at all.
Month after month, the money failed to arrive while the children continued growing, eating and needing school supplies.
By the time the matter returned to court, the unpaid maintenance had piled up to US$480, turning a simple parental duty into a criminal headache.
The court heard that instead of meeting his responsibilities like a grown man, Mlotshwa allowed the arrears to grow quietly until his ex-wife dragged him back before the magistrate.
Magistrate Chirai said parents must not treat maintenance like a favour instead of a duty. Love may fade, marriages may collapse, but children still need to eat, dress and go to school.
Online Reporter