The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube
Weekender Correspondent
A MUTARE welder-cum-mechanic is claiming that the Covid-19 pandemic has taken a heavy knock on his financial fortunes.
In an effort to avoid paying more for his children’s upkeep, James Zimuto disowned his two commuter omnibuses, insisting that he is just an employee at the transport enterprise.
Zimuto was on Tuesday dragged to court by his estranged wife, Maurine Karinda, who was applying for an upward variation for their two minor children’s maintenance from $400 to $6 000.
The couple appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Lazarus Murendo.
“He owns two commuter omnibuses plying the Mutare-Odzi route. He also doubles up as a welder and mechanic. His business is booming and there is no way he cannot afford to pay the money,” argued Karinda.
“I don’t know his company’s name, but his name is inscribed on the commuter omnibuses’ receipt books. He makes money on a daily basis and has been working throughout the Covid-19 lockdown. His other child is enrolled at university. If he can afford to pay fees for his child’s tertiary education, he can afford to pay the money that I am applying for,” she said.
But Zimuto stated that he has five other minor children to take care of.
“I don’t own those kombis. Sometimes I attend to the kombis’ defects so she thinks I own them. Your Worship, I have a wife and six children, five of them are still minor and they all need to be taken care of.
“The eldest one is a university student, which means I am already burdened.
“I am struggling to pay the current $400, the $6 000 she is applying for is just too much.
“ln addition to this, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a serious impact on my finances,” said Zimuto.
In his ruling, Mr Murendo said it is the obligation of both parents to take care of their children.
He ordered Zimuto to pay $1 500 every month.
“It is the duty of both parents to take care of their children. One should not use the maintenance application as a tool to mend broken relationships. An amount of $400 is negligible to two minor children. You (Zimuto) should work hard to generate enough income to take care of your children since they never applied to be born.
“While Covid-19 has caused untold suffering to many as businesses are not operating fully, children should still be taken care of,” he said.
