The ManicaPost
A MUTARE-based war veteran last week refused to pay maintenance arguing that he has four other children he is maintaining.
Appearing before Mutare magistrate Mrs Yeukai Chigodora, Paul Chad, who is currently employed by Mutare Farm Supplies, said he could not meet the $89 maintenance claim from one of his many girlfriends, Julia Chapeyama, who was claiming that Chad earns $350 on top of the war veteran allowances he gets every month.
“I do not get a monthly salary of $350 like she is claiming. I only get $96 every month and if you remove $89 from that amount, how will I survive? Right now I am in no position to pay maintenance. I want her to understand this and give me more time so that I put my house in order.
“Need I say that I also have four other children whom I am paying maintenance for, so for me to add another child to that list now will be too big a burden for me because I am also paying off a bank loan,” petitioned Chad.
Asked how much he could afford at the moment, Chad settled for $30.
However, Chapeyama would have none of it and said she wanted her son to be taken care of just like Chad’s other children whom he sired outside his marriage.
“This man is lying. I do not know anything about a bank loan and so I want him to take care of his child just like all his other children. He is a war veteran and he is entitled to allowances every month,” said Chapeyama.
Mrs Chigodora finally settled for $40 to be paid by Chad for the maintenance of his child.
