The ManicaPost
Weekender Correspondent
A MUTARE man who was away on business came back home to find his house empty as his family had relocated without his knowledge.
The matter came to light at the Mutare Civil Courts last week on Thursday after Josephine Makoni had dragged her husband, Brighton Togarepi, to court claiming his entire salary as maintenance for their four children.
Togarepi, however, told the court that he could not afford the desired amount as he is occupied with repaying bank loans he had obtained on Makoni’s behest.
He said the loans were used to finance Makoni’s cross-border trading business interests and what he is now taking home is no longer enough to cater for his family’s needs.
He added that apart from forcing him to acquire bank loans, Makoni is also in the habit of selling their matrimonial property to finance her business.
“After acquiring all these loans and squandering the money, she moved out with all the property and children. This happened during my absence as I was deployed out of the city.
“I only realised that the house was empty when I was given some off days yesterday (Wednesday) and came back home. She took away my clothes. I only have the clothes that I am putting on,” he said.
Togarepi insisted that he was a responsible man who always made sure that his family had enough food on the table.
“I have always committed all of my salary towards the upkeep of my family. This woman has been keeping my bank cards until recently when I was deployed elsewhere.
“However, I would still send her all the money so that she could look after the children.
“Despite that, as soon as she heard about our salary increment, she rushed to court to apply for maintenance. This shows just how greedy she is. I have never neglected my family,” he claimed.
In her application, Makoni was seeking $28 000 maintenance for the upkeep of the couple’s four children.
She confirmed that she moved out of their matrimonial home in her husband’s absence, saying he had not been paying rentals for their lodging.
She, however, denied that she forced her husband to acquire bank loans to sponsor her business.
“He does not look after the children. I moved out because he was not paying any rentals. We owed the landlord a lot of money. If I was running away from him, why would I have carried his clothes with me?
“I make money from cross-border trading and that is how we survive. It has been six months since he gave me his bank cards,” said Makoni.
Togarepi said he now takes home $18 000 and offered it all to his family.
Mr Chipato agreed to the offer.
“The court cannot give you the $28 000 you want as your husband does not have it. Your husband is offering you all of the money that he gets and so you should at least let him have some of his allowances so that he survives too,” ruled Mr Chipato.
