The ManicaPost
Melody Vherenaisi
Weekender Reporter
A Mutare woman who deserted her three children and their father six years ago has been ordered by the courts to cater for their daily needs while her husband caters for their school fees and other related expenses.
Rosemary Nyaungwe deserted her family for six years.
She then recently resurfaced and filed for a US$288 maintenance claim against her husband, Samuel Dzvikiti.
The estranged couple recently appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Xavier Chipato.
Mr Chipato ruled that Nyaungwe should cater for the children’s food, rentals as well as clothing, while Dzvikiti caters for their school fees and all school related expenses.
Dzvikiti said Nyaungwe abandoned the children for six years and upon her return, she discovered that he was in the process of applying for maintenance from her.
Nyaungwe then rushed to court to make a counter maintenance application against Dzvikiti.
Testifying in court, Nyaungwe said: “I decided to leave him with the children because I was tired of single-handedly providing for the family.
“I was providing the children with food, clothing and school fees, yet I am just a vendor and realise between US$80 and US$85 every month.”
However, Dzvikiti said he has been taking care of the children alone during his wife’s absence.
“She returned home two weeks ago and took two children with her. She left me with the other one who later ran away from me to join his siblings and mother after he was accused of stealing from our neighbour. Our neighbours were looking for him, so he decided to run to his mother’s place.
Nyaungwe, however, told the court that she has been providing for the children.
She said at one point she gave him US$80 to buy some food for the children.
Nyaungwe also said her husband is in the habit of dumping their children at her workplace.
Dzvikiti offered to pay school fees for all the three children and also take care of all other school related expenses, which Nyaungwe agreed to.
