The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa: Weekender Correspondent
MAINTENANCE is not capital for the mother to start a business, but is only meant for the well-being of the child, a Mutare magistrate has said. Ms Anniah Ndiraya said this after Janet Chitsa had stated that of the $200 maintenance she was applying for from her husband, Joshua Tsongota, she needed $100 as capital for her business.The magistrate said women should not take advantage of men who pay for their children’s upkeep and use the money for other purposes.
She said: “If you want to start a business, you look for a job or do piece works, earn some money and start your own business.”
Chitsa was applying for $200 monthly maintenance for her four minor children from Tsongota, a Mutare City Council employee who earns $220. She had told the court that of the $200 she needed, $100 was for her children’s upkeep, while the remaining was capital for her business.
“I need the $100 to start my own business so that I will also look after myself and the children,” she said.
Chitsa had described Tsongota as a negligent father who was ignoring the welfare of his children and living a luxurious life in the city.
“Our first born child is 19 and is at home doing nothing after passing his Advanced Level education with 11 points. “Tsongota will not send him to university claiming that he has financial problems,” she told the court.
She complained that Tsongota had married a new wife and was staying with her in Mutare, while she and the children are staying in the rural areas. Tsongota admitted to having married a new wife and staying with her in the city.
He, however, offered $120 monthly maintenance for his four minor children. Ms Ndiraya granted the children $130 monthly maintenance and advised Chitsa to apply for a maintenance variation upwards in 2018 when Tsongotsa finishes paying off his loan with a local bank.
