The ManicaPost
Blessing Rwizi Weekender Correspondent
The courts were left stunned when a father of four offered a paltry $5 for the upkeep of each sired with his ex-wife. Motton Zvomunongoda told the court that it was better for his children not to go to school than give him the burden of raising their school fees. Zvomunongoda was dragged to court by Redia Beauty Muponda who was demanding $200 maintenance for the children.
They are aged 13, eight, six and three years, respectively. Miss Nyasha Kuture heard the matter. The estranged Muponda told the court that Zvomunonga last paid school fees for his 13-year-old son four years ago.
“This man lacks the heart of a parent Your Worship. He last paid the school fees of our 13-years-old child four years ago when he was in Grade Three. Now he is in Grade Seven and we cannot even talk about the other three. I am struggling to take care of these children alone.
“I need $200 for the children’s food, school fees and clothes. He gets more than $150 per day,” said Muponda. She further told the court that her ex-husband was refusing to acquire birth certificates for the children.
“These children have no births certificates and everything seems normal to him. I now need the court’s intervention,” she added. Zvomunongoda did not dispute the allegations levelled against him by his ex-wife.
Instead he told the court that he was failing to cater for the children’s needs because he did not have a decent job. He offered to pay $5 per child. Asked if he was going to pay for the children’s school fees on top of the $5, he replied in the negative.
“It is better for these children to stay at home than go to school because I have no money. I am a truck loader in Dora communal areas and I get $20 per month, so I will channel all that money to them. I have no other source of income Your Worship,” said Zvomunondiita.
He also told the court that he has a wife and a child to take care of. In her ruling, Miss Kuture ordered Zvomunondiita to pay $40 for the children’s upkeep from July 31 as well as paying $20 per month towards the children’s education.
