Couple wrangles over child’s mental illness

05 Aug, 2016 - 00:08 0 Views

The ManicaPost

Blessing Rwizi : Weekender Correspondent

A MUTARE man was left shell shocked after his ex-wife claimed before the courts that their 10-year-old son was mentally ill in a bid to win a custody dispute.Biggie Magutse who hails from Chikanga high-density suburb got the shock of his life after he had dragged his ex-wife, Mendy Mutonga to court seeking custody of his son.

Miss Nyasha Kuture presided over the matter.

Magutse told the court that the child was not going to school, yet he is paying $45 maintenance. He suspected that his mother was misusing the money.

“I had no problem when the child was staying with her grandmother in Mutambara, going to a registered school. His mother took her to Mutare and told me that the child was not going to school because there was no money. Where is she putting the money that I am paying?

“I recently figured out that my child is only going to a study centre called Emmanuel in Natview Park. It is not even a registered school Your Worship. I want to take my child to Mutambara Mission,” said Magutse.

He told the court that he was also not happy with where Mutonga is staying with the child.

“She is staying in a single room divided by a curtain in Sakubva. The other side of the curtain stays a married couple. Your Worship, such a set up is not good for a child of that age,” he said.

All hell broke loose after Mutonga told the court that the child had some mental challenges so he needed special attention from her.

“I took him from the rural areas where he was learning because he has mental challenges and I was advised by my mother and his teachers that he needs special attention and monitoring from me. No woman can take care of my child with his condition. Your Worship, even if I leave my child with you for an hour you can tell that he is not normal. He is not going to a proper school because I have no money, but my intention is to move him to a better school next term.

“Moreover, why is Magutse seeing now that the place I stay is not good? Is it not the same place where he saw me in 10 years ago, slept with me, gave birth to this child and dumped me? It is the same place, so what makes it different now? Its normal to me and my child,” said Mutonga.

Magutse said: “She is lying. This child is very normal and I know she is only doing it to win this case.”

In her ruling, Mrs Kuture dismissed the application and said Magutse did not produce enough evidence and facts to convince the court on his application.

He was ordered to add more money to the $45 that he is paying as maintenance so that Mutonga takes the child to a better school.

 

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