Man offers $25k for five children

Kundainashe Chimbi

A Harare man offered $25 000 maintenance for the upkeep of his five minor children leaving the court gallery in shock.

Tapfumanei Taruvinga, who was taken to the Maintenance Court by his ex-wife, Lisa Chafewa, told the court that he can only afford to pay $25 000.

“I earn $198 000 and after deductions I will be left with $153 000. My offer is $25 000,” he said.

Lisa turned down the offer saying the money was too little.

“I do not accept it because it is not enough and it will not assist me in any way.

“Out of five, four of the children are going to school and that amount will not assist,” she said.

Lisa also told the court that Tapfumanei works for few days a month and the other days he does part-time jobs.

“He works for only 16 days and for the others days he does part-time jobs. He also gets an allowance of US$60 on top of the money stated on his pay slip,” she added.

Magistrate Ayanda Dhlamini ordered Tapfumanei to pay $35 000.