adminIvan Zhakata Court Reporter
A Harare City Council employee was taken to the Harare Civil Court by his wife for neglecting their three-month-old child. Christopher Takaindisa, who is employed as a municipal police officer by HCC, allegedly deserted his wife, Elizabeth Chiumhu after she gave birth. Chiumhu, who was demanding $70 for the upkeep of their child, told magistrate Mrs Barbra Mateko that Takaindisa does not fend for them and claims that the child is not his. “I want $70 for our child who is three months old because he ran away from me after I gave birth and left me with the burden of fending for the child,” Chiumhu said.
“He works at the Harare City Council as a municipal police officer and earns $700, so he is able to maintain his child. I am doing my part as a mother and he should do his part as a father,” she said. Takaindisa confirmed working for HCC but disputed the $700 salary saying he earns $526 and is paying $150 maintenance for two children he sired with another woman.
He offered $30 dollars arguing that he doubts the child’s paternity. “I can only give her $30 because I do not earn that much considering that I am paying $150 for my other two children,” Takaindisa said. Magistrate Mrs Mateko ordered Takaindisa to pay $70 for the upkeep of their child saying since he was paying $150 for his other two children $70 was fair as the children should receive an equal share.
Online Reporter