adminMelody Baya Court Reporter
A RETIRED government worker and war veteran yesterday appeared before the Bulawayo maintenance court to offer $40 for the upkeep of his four school going children. Nathaniel Moyo of Old Pumula suburb appeared before magistrate Adelaide Mbeure and said he can only afford to pay $10 for each child. He said that he was in no capacity to pay $150 which his former wife Saziwe Ndlovu was claiming. “I’m willing to pay $40 for my four children. I currently reside in the rural areas where I do some farming. I really don’t get much from farming because I don’t have farming implements and what I produce I consume,” said Moyo.
“I also have a wife and five other children whom I’ve to take of and school fees for my children is catered for by the government through the war vet funds”. However, Ndlovu maintained that Moyo had neglected his responsibility towards the children.
She said Moyo had not lifted a hand in buying school stationery for the children and clothes to wear. “The children have not benefited from his pension and the fees money he receives from the war vet funds” said Ndlovu. “There are arrears at school and my child who is in Form Four will not receive his results when they come out because of the debt that has accumulated”.
Mbeure said regardless of the situation, the children still had to survive. She ordered Moyo to pay $40 per month and school fees for the four children. “In coming up with the order, the court considered that Moyo is a pensioner and has other children to take care of,” said Mbeure.
“Therefore it would be appropriate to order that the respondent pays $40 per month and caters for the fees for the four children”.
derick.khumalo