The ManicaPost
Blessing Rwizi Post Correspondent —
A MUTARE man on Tuesday stunned the court by denying paternity of his child in a bid to escape paying maintenance.
Simbarashe Tasweranadzo was fighting a $195 maintenance claim by wife, Alice Dodzo for the two children they sired together.
Miss Nyasha Kuture heard the matter. Dodzo told the court that Tasweranadzo realizes a minimum of $400 after every two weeks.
“According to his workmates’s papers, he earns about $800 each month but he does not want to disclose his earnings. I can manage with $195 for the two children because I am only a smallholder farmer and vendor getting $25 per month. He should help me to take care of his children,” said Dodzo.
Tasweranadzo denied fathering the second child.
“I have one child with her. She knows the father of the second child and I can’t be held responsible for what is not mine. I earn only $30 each month from piece jobs,” said Tasweranadzo.
He offered $30. In response, Dodzo told the court Tasweranadzo impregnated her while their first born was one month old.
“He is a liar. He got me pregnant when our first born was one month old and now he wants to deny the child to avoid paying maintenance,” said Dodzo.
In her ruling, Miss Kuture ordered Tasweranadzo to pay $50 as monthly maintenance for the two children with effect from January 30.
“Go for DNA tests and prove that the child is not yours and come back to court. For now you are held responsible for that child’s needs,” she said.
