Maintenance reviewed upwards

Anotida Chonzi-Herald Correspondent

A HARARE woman has secured an upward variation in child maintenance, with the court ordering her former partner to increase payments from US$40 to US$50 plus ZiG1 000 for the upkeep of their two-year-old child.

Fungai Mukurumbane appeared before Harare Civil Court Magistrate Ms Faina Makumbe seeking the adjustment, arguing that her expenses had risen since the child started attending crèche in January this year.

She told the court she pays US$20 per month in crèche fees but has recently been struggling to meet costs.

“I decided to come to maintenance court for an upward variation because our child is now going to crèche and I pay US$20 per month, but I have been struggling,” she said.

Mukurumbane also said the father, Tafadzwa Runyemba, had removed the child from medical aid, leaving her to cover medical expenses alone.

Runyemba opposed the application, insisting he could not afford the increase.

“I have two other children whose school fees I pay, along with food and transport costs. US$100 is too much for me,” he told the court.