The ManicaPost
Blessing Gondokondo : Court Reporter
A HARARE businessman, Eshwart Muzeza, is alleged to have neglected his mentally challenged child and only offered a paltry $20 for the teenager’s upkeep.Muzeza appeared at the Mutare Civil Courts recently after his ex-wife, Tsitsi Munyerei, had approached the courts to force him to cater for the 14-year-old’s upkeep.
Muzeza said he was a pensioner and had other children in boarding schools and at universities to cater for. He said he was paying a lot of money at these institutions, so he could only afford to pay $20.
“I have children in boarding schools and universities Your Worship. I am pensioner being paid $300 a month. These institutions (boarding schools and universities) require a lot of money. I can only afford to pay $20 for the child’s upkeep,” said Muzeza.
Muzeza told the court that Munyerei was just his girlfriend trying to feed from his pocket.
However, Munyerei produced a tradition marriage certificate in court which showed that they were married for eight years before he married another wife.
The court heard that since the lapse of the marriage eight years ago, Muzeza had not paid anything towards the child’s upkeep.
Munyerei said the money Muzeza was offering was an insult considering his social standings.
She said the teenager had never attended school as she has no money to pay for the school fees.
“Your Worship, he (Muzeza) has properties in Harare and Karoi. He also owns a fleet of kombis in Harare. He is living pretty, yet we are suffering here. I am playing the double role of being a father and mother to the child. I am struggling to raise money for the child’s medication and school fees at a special school,” said Munyerei.
“He has not paid anything for his child’s upkeep and my job is not paying enough to send the child to school, pay for his medication and provide food for him,” she said.
The child is said to have enrolled for school at Chengetai Special School this year.
Mutare magistrate, Miss Nyasha Kuture presided over the matter and ordered Muzeza to pay $150 maintenance, cater for the child’s medical aid and school fees with effect from this month.
