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Thandeka Moyo Court Correspondent
A SENIOR National Railways of Zimbabwe engineman has a habit of abandoning his family each time he gets paid and only returns when he is broke, his wife told the court yesterday.Sibongile Zondo, of Westgate in Bulawayo, dragged her husband, William Chimunhu, to the Maintenance Court accusing him of failing to support his family.
“My husband has a habit of disappearing on pay day only to resurface after some days without any money for me,” she said adding, “Our two children are now malnourished because of lack of food.”
The visibly distressed Zondo begged magistrate Victor Mpofu to order her husband, who earns about $1,500 monthly, to maintain her and the children.
She alleged that Chimunhu, deprived her of funds the whole year and only gave her $200 last month.
“This man flees from us every time he gets paid. He doesn’t even consider that I can’t breastfeed due to a medical problem but squanders all the money alone,” Zondo charged.
“I plead with this court to help me maintain myself and the two children we have.”
In reply, Chimunhu blamed Zondo for failing to buy mealie-meal and relish the last time he gave her money.
He charged: “This woman can’t spend money in a proper way and that’s why I don’t give her any. I gave her some money in December and from all she bought, there was no mealie-meal or relish.
“As we speak, there is no food in the house because she didn’t buy with the money given to her. She is wasteful, Your Honour.”
Magistrate Mpofu ordered Chimunhu to pay his wife $200 per month for her welfare their children starting this month.
Online Reporter