Online Reporter
Solomon Bhumu
Weekender Reporter
A PENHALONGA man walked out of the Mutare Civil Court with a beaming smile after being exonerated from paying maintenance for his two minor children who are now under his custody.
The matter, which was presided over by Ms Thandiwe Sibanda, involved Vincent Makonese, of Penhalonga and Tabeth Ngandini, who separated four years ago.
Makonese approached the court seeking a review of the US$90 monthly maintenance he had been ordered to pay, arguing that the children are now staying with him.
He told the court that Ngandini’s mother had brought the children to his home, saying she could no longer take care of them as her daughter was away in Mozambique.
“When I divorced Tabeth, the children were very young, so they stayed with her. When she filed for maintenance, I offered to take the children, but she refused, saying she wanted the money. Now they are with me, and I am glad to finally have them under my custody,” said Makonese.
Ngandini’s mother (name not established) confirmed in court that her daughter had left for Mozambique about two months ago, and was imprisoned there.
She told the court that she was struggling to provide for the children since she already had another daughter’s children under her care.
“She is my daughter, but I could not manage anymore. I decided to take the children to their father because I was failing to look after them. The money he was sending was not enough to feed and clothe them,” said Ngandini’s mother.
This was not the first time Makonese had tried to have the maintenance order set aside.
His earlier application was dismissed after the court directed him to bring a relative of his former wife to confirm the situation.
This time, with the testimony of his former mother-in-law and proof that the children are living with him, the court ruled in his favour.
Ms Sibanda cancelled the previous maintenance order, saying the circumstances had changed since the initial ruling.
