adminAnswer Sithole
A soldier based at 3 Infantry Brigade in Mutare argued against paying maintenance arrears for over 12 months claiming that he had been supporting his child all this while despite not having proof of payment.
Tinashe Chitapata and Dzidzai Dororo appeared in court before magistrate Mrs Sharon Chipanga, with the latter applying for a garnishing order on December 5.
Dororo informed the court that the respondent Chitapata had not paid maintenance for the whole of 2014, with the arrears amounting to $1 220.
It is the failure to report such a scenario by the applicant that made magistrate Mrs Chipanga to question whether she was not receiving anything at all for a year, telling her that this proves she can survive without being maintained.
Dororo said: “This man has not paid anything since 2013 and it’s now more than a year without him doing anything for the child.
“The court should give a garnishing order and if it is possible he should pay the arrears of $1 220.”
The respondent had no kind words to the claim that he owed Dororo over $1 000 in maintenance arrears.
Online Reporter