The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
THE volume of people in Chipinge District approaching the civil courts to claim maintenance has dropped by close to 400 percent over the past two years as a result of awareness campaigns on the need to provide for one’s family, it has been established.
Statistics gleaned from the Chipinge Magistrates’ Court show that a total of 139 cases were recorded in 2021, while 137 were recorded in 2020 against a peak of 544 cases recorded in 2019.
Acting district development officer in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises, Mrs Ivy Chitambo said following the upsurge in maintenance cases, the district embarked on campaigns to encourage the public to be economically empowered.
“The district recorded a high number of cases of women seeking help at the civil court for the upkeep of their children, especially at the peak of Covid-19.
However, the Government and development partners swiftly responded by implementing various programmes to eradicate such issues.
“We have rolled out various projects to economically empower women so that they can be self-reliant and feed their children. We are also encouraging them to apply for loans at the Women’s Bank,” said Mrs Chitambo.
Provincial development officer, Mr Gabriel Jaji attributed the declining cases to awareness campaigns in Chipinge.
“There were a number of awareness campaigns which managed to bring information to our communities and they are now conscious of the need to take care of their families,” he said.
Mr Jaji said although the maintenance cases in the district have declined, some women are still facing challenges in applying for maintenance.
“We still have a number of people in our society who do not have the documentation that is required when applying for maintenance. There is need for one to have an identity document when opening a bank account so as to receive the money,” said Mr Jaji.
