Sharon Jiyamwa-Herald Reporter
A HARARE man was detained for two hours on Monday after repeatedly interrupting a magistrate during proceedings at the Harare Civil Court.
Edward Mutimbiri appeared before Magistrate Ms Janemary Makonye in a maintenance dispute involving his wife, Maurine Mutimbiri.
Maurine approached the court seeking a garnishee order to have US$50 deducted from Edward’s Government pension and paid directly into her bank account.
She told the court that Edward was not paying spousal maintenance money, prompting her to seek an order for the funds to be deducted directly from his pension.
Edward, however, told the court that he could no longer afford the maintenance amount because his income had declined.
He said when the maintenance order was initially granted, he was earning US$300 per month, but his income had since dropped to US$120 following his retirement.
The court advised him to apply for a reduction of the maintenance order, if he could no longer afford the set amount.
However, while the magistrate was explaining the position to him, Edward repeatedly interrupted her. As a result, the court ordered his detention for two hours for disrespecting the court.
The court subsequently granted the garnishee order in favour of Maurine, allowing the US$50 spousal maintenance payment to be deducted from Edward’s pension and paid directly into her bank account.
