adminSukulwenkosi Dube, Plumtree Correspondent
A Plumtree Prison and Correctional Services officer has refused to pay maintenance for his two-month-old baby after disputing the child’s paternity.
Judge Sibanda told Plumtree magistrate, Mr Taurai Manwere that he wanted to first conduct a paternity test after his ex-lover Ms Evidence Sibanda dragged him to court demanding $100 maintenance for the upkeep of their child, Shatiso Olwethu Sibanda.
Mr Manwere, however, ordered Judge to pay maintenance while awaiting results of the paternity test.
“You can go for a paternity test if you want but in the meantime you will be paying maintenance until the results are out.
“In the meantime you will pay $60 from now up to 30 March 2018 because there are debts that you have to clear within that period. Thereafter you will pay $80 maintenance for the upkeep of your child monthly,” he said.
In her application Ms Sibanda had said that she wanted $100 maintenance to cater for the child’s food, groceries, medical expenses, clothes, incidences and transport money to take the child to hospital.
She said ever since the child was born, Judge had not contributed towards his upkeep. “He is just using the paternity test as an excuse not to pay maintenance Your Worship, but the child is his as he is the only man I had slept with at the time I conceived.
“Ever since the child was born he hasn’t contributed towards his upkeep but he is gainfully employed. I have tried to engage him several times over the matter and he hasn’t been co-operating. I have been struggling to fend for the child on my own,” she said.
In response Judge said he doubted that the child was his. He said if he were to pay maintenance he could afford $40 per month as he had another minor child to look after.
“Besides, the money which the applicant is demanding is unreasonable. At two months a child doesn’t need all this money that she is demanding. I have other expenses as well and I can only afford to pay $40 maintenance,” he said.
Online Reporter