‘Too young to pay maintenance’

Thandeka Moyo Court Correspondent
“YOU became a man on the day you unzipped your trousers and made this girl pregnant. You’re therefore responsible for the welfare of the child,” a magistrate told a teenager on Friday.Bulawayo magistrate, Victor Mpofu, gave out the stern lecture to Isley Makaza, 18, who had shocked the court by claiming that he was too young to pay maintenance for the child.

He had only finished writing his A’ Level examinations recently and was unemployed, he told the court. The teenager had denied paternity of the child in June, but DNA tests later proved he was the father.

The positive result prompted Memory Goredema, the mother of the child, to claim maintenance.
“I don’t have the capacity to take care of the baby as I’m still under the care of my parents and I’m looking forward to furthering my studies next year. I’m unemployed and too young to be a father,” he said, leaving the court in stitches.

But Mpofu reminded him that sex was for adults and that since he decided to engage in early sex, he should man up.
“You deliberately decided to sleep with Memory Goredema and now that she has a baby you’ve to pay for his upkeep. Last time you denied paternity and now that results came out positive you have to pay for the welfare of your child. The court therefore orders you to pay $50 monthly, starting this month end and if you fail to pay you’ll be charged with contempt of court,” said Mpofu.

Makaza and Goredema met in school in March 2011 while they were both doing their O’ Levels. In October of the same year, Goredema discovered she was pregnant. She told Makaza about it but he pressurised her to abort with the help of a sangoma who charged them $50.

The court heard that attempts to terminate the pregnancy were abortive, and Goredema eloped from her home and went to Makaza’s where they stayed for some months and continued having sex.

The two later separated as Makaza’s mother was alleging her son was not responsible for the pregnancy. In June 2013, Goredema decided to drag Makaza to court for maintenance. He denied being the father resulting in the magistrate ordering them to go for the paternity test.