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Thandeka Moyo Court Correspondent
A Bulawayo man is demanding $25,000 he paid for 15 years in maintenance to his enstranged girlfriend after DNA tests proved the child was not his.Aiden Tichareva has been paying maintenance to Eva Mangena for the upkeep of two children believed to be his since 1997 to 2012.
Tichareva applied for a DNA test, which was done in South Africa and proved that the eldest child, now 19, was not his biological daughter.
The two appeared in court yesterday where Mangena challenged Tichareva’s application to reduce maintenance money from $100 to $40 per month.
“Your Honour this woman is deceitful. She made me pay maintenance for her child for 15 years knowing that she was not my child,” Tichareva blasted.
“She should pay me up to $25, 000 for that and there is no way she can oppose it. I am now paying maintenance for one child but can no longer afford it.”
Tichareva said he resigned from his job due to ill health and claimed he no longer has any source of income. “I am finding it extremely difficult pay $100. It is beyond my means,” he said.
In her response, Mangena argued that Tichareva was famous for contempt of court as he has never paid maintenance on time.
“If he is allowed to pay less money it means my child will be forced to quit school. This man leads a lavish life and he cannot fail to give me $100 monthly,” said Mangena.
Tichareva hit back saying Mangena was an irresponsible and inconsiderate person who would not allow him to see his daughter.
“I will continue paying fees for my daughter through the school and will only afford to give her $40. May this court kindly order this woman to give me access to my child because I am failing to see her yet I am paying maintenance,” he said.
Magistrate Mpofu rebuked the couple for reducing the court to their personal playground where they took chances to accuse each other.
“I think you two should grow up and behave like adults who have children. You have the thickest file in this building because you are always before this court for numerous minor issues,” he charged.
“I cannot waste my time attending to your perennial problems and all I can say is grow up! You must stop your habit of coming to court monthly to report each other.”
Mpofu then ordered Tichareva to pay Mangena $60 maintenance monthly and school fees for one minor child.
Online Reporter