Son,19, drags father to maintenance court

Thubelihle Mabhena Court Reporter
A FATHER of six has been dragged to court by one of his children for failing to pay his school fees since 2012.
Hannibal Moyo, 53, a teacher from Filabusi, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Vivian Ndlovu with his son, 19, demanding $131 maintenance to pay school fees and cater for other expenses.
The student told the court he is in Form Two at a school located at Magwegwe suburb.
He said he stays with his grandmother while his father is a teacher at Gumbalo High School in Filabusi.

“So how does it feel to be dragged to court by your own son for not being able to support him?” asked magistrate Ndlovu.
“I don’t enjoy it but I can’t afford the money my son is asking for because I’ve five other children. I’m already drowning in debt from the two loans I’m paying back monthly”, said Moyo.

“I can only offer him $25 because I receive $180 salary after all the deductions.”
The pay slip on record showed that he has an ABC easy loan deduction of $128,85, a CABS loan subtracts $150 and Royal Housing Project draws $40.

Moyo said he has been a teacher for 24 years and he took the loans to finance the medical expenses of his ill wife who needed an operation.
“I took a $2,000 loan from CABS. I bought building material for $400 and I paid my fees at Solusi University with the rest of the money,” said Moyo.

The magistrate, however, suggested that Moyo should educate his children.
“How old are you Moyo? Don’t you think it’s wise of you to educate your children because you’re going to retire soon?” she asked.

Moyo replied: “But they were forcing us to have degrees so that we could be promoted at work. My son can come and live with me and my family in the rural areas and learn where I teach. We can then share the little I get.”

The magistrate asked Moyo if he wanted his son to transfer to the rural areas and grow up to reason like him.
“I don’t want him to follow your footsteps. I’m going to grant him $30 as maintenance with effect from the end of October until he finishes his O-Levels,” she said.

The magistrate negotiated with the grandmother for her to offer assistance in other expenses like food and advised the pupil to work hard at school to achieve greatness.