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Patient Sibanda, Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO woman yesterday wept at the Maintenance Court when she was granted $30 for the upkeep of her child after her daughter’s father said he could not afford the $160 that she was demanding.
Siphathisiwe Moyo of Nkulumane suburb approached the court seeking financial support for her 14-year-old daughter from her ex-lover Polane Thembo of Nketa suburb.
Thembo told provincial magistrate Enias Magate that he could not afford $160 that the woman was claiming as he earns about $120 per month from menial jobs.
“I can’t afford to pay $160 even though she is my daughter. I’m not employed and I only survive by doing piece jobs. I’m married to another woman and also I’ve four other children who I support. I won’t be able to pay this amount that she is claiming as I’m also maintaining two other children,” he said.
Magistrate Magate ordered Thembo to pay $30 per month for the upkeep of his child beginning this month.
However, Moyo wept saying the money was not adequate for her child’s needs.
She told the court that her daughter was not going to school because she could not afford to pay her fees.
“I want $160 for my child. His four children are going to school but mine is denied her right to education because of him. He is lying that he is not employed. He is employed, but only that I don’t know the company. This $30 that he is offering won’t be enough for the upkeep of my child,” Moyo said.
The magistrate told Moyo to go and bring evidence proving that Thembo was employed.
“If you find out that he is employed by a certain company you come and we will increase the money,” he said.
derick.khumalo