adminLethokuhle Moyo Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO businesswoman yesterday dragged her medical doctor husband to the Maintenance Court demanding $3,775 a month for the upkeep of their six year old daughter and buying dog food. Grace Ndlovu, who runs a bar in Bulawayo’s Central Business District (CBD), also claimed an additional $4,500 per term for her daughter’s school expenses from Dr Nkonzo Ndebele.
The woman said she needs money every month for the following: dog food, $100; generator and fuel, $150; rent; $400, gardener’s salary $150; computer servicing and updates, $50, among others.
Ndlovu claimed Dr Ndebele earns more than $25,000 per month can afford to pay the amount of money that she was demanding.
The woman said they once separated, but reconciled and they have been living together in Manningdale since July last year.
The couple appeared before magistrate Charity Maphosa and a ruling is expected to be delivered today.
Ndlovu said their daughter is used to a lavish “sophisticated lifestyle” which she cannot afford on her own and Dr Ndebele is capable of maintaining that lifestyle.
“The income that I get from the bar is not sufficient enough to cater for my personal needs and that of my daughter’s daily needs,” she said.
Dr Ndebele confirmed that he runs a surgery but dismissed claims that he earns more than $25,000 saying his salary was less than $3,000 per month.
He said it was not true that he was not taking care of his daughter and claimed that he has been paying for his daughter’s tennis lessons.
“My daughter is not accustomed to a lavish sophisticated lifestyle but she leads a normal life within our financial means,” he said.
He said their minor child learns at one of the city’s top private primary schools (name supplied) and has another daughter who is at one of the country’s top private boarding school.
Dr Ndebele said the maintenance of their child had nothing to do with some of the things that Ndlovu listed such as dog food, rent, generator fuel, gardener as well as servicing of computers.
“This is a self made activity just to get cash from me using our daughter.”
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