Couple in 17-year-old daughter custody contest

07 Oct, 2016 - 00:10 0 Views

The ManicaPost

Blessing Rwizi Weekender Correspondent

A MARANGE polygamist approached the courts on Monday praying for the custody of his 17-year-older daughter.Habbu Tapiwa who hails from Masvaure Village under Chief Marange accused his ex-wife only identified as Charity of being insensitive to the child’s welfare and education.

The former was also applying for maintenance discharge.

He has been paying $85 for the child’s upkeep for the past 16 years.

Mrs Yeukai Chigodora heard the matter. Habbu told the court that his daughter always complained about the way her mother was treating her.

“She has another child with her current husband and my daughter has been complaining on how her mother was treating her compared to the other child. This has been happening for some time now and I figured out that she was channelling the money that I have been paying towards the welfare of her other child while my daughter suffers. Right now she hasn’t been going to school for more than 10 days because of school feels arrears, yet I am paying money for all that Your Worship. I think its best for the child to stay with me,” said Habbu.

He added that the child was beginning to loiter around during late hours with boyfriends, but her mother seems not to care about that.

“That girl’s eyes are beginning to be open, but her mother is not doing anything about it. I want to stay with her so that I can closely monitor her movements and avoid early and unwanted pregnancies,” he added.

Asked why the child was not going to school, Charity told the court that the child had serious health challenges so she was taking her to Masowe for assistance.

“She has been falling like someone with epilepsy over the past two weeks so I decided to stop her from going to school for a moment so that she receives full attention from Masowe. The situation is getting much better from the water that we are being given there.

“I don’t think the child has any other problem with staying with me since I have been with her for the past 16 years. I am putting the money that her father is giving me to good use and right now I am about to pay her school fees for this term,” said Charity.

She told the court that she could not alert her ex-hubby about the child’s illness since she does not have his contact details, despite having nothing in common to talk about.

The presiding magistrate, Mrs Chigodora told the two to come back on October 21 for their ruling so that probation officers investigate on the case and come up with the best solution concerning the child’s custody.

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