The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Correspondent
A Mutare woman who thought her ex-husband was living large and could afford to pay $100 000 every month for the upkeep of their two children got the shock of her life when it emerged that the man is a pushcart operator.
Esther Mawuta last week dragged her estranged husband, Albert Dhari, to Mutare Civil Court demanding $100 000 for the upkeep of their children aged nine and five.
In her earlier application in January, Mawuta demanded $18 900 for the upkeep of the two children.
Asked on why she was changing the amount, Mawuta said the cost of living has gone up in the past month.
Mawuta claimed that Dhari runs his brother’s timber business in Bulawayo and is capable of paying the money.
The two appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Xavier Chipato last week on Thursday.
“What I want is US$500 from him. He should pay me that amount or its street equivalent which is $100 000. It will be enough for his children. They cannot suffer when their father is making a lot of money in Bulawayo,” said Mawuta.
She further told the court that Dhari earns more than US$3 000 every month, adding that raising $100 000 every month for his children will not be a problem.
“He buys timber here in Manicaland and sells it in Bulawayo. It is difficult for me to ascertain how much he earns from selling the timber but I know he gets more than US$3 000. What I am claiming is a drop in the ocean for him. He also has a lot of cattle at his rural home,” said Mawuta.
Mawuta claimed she had visited Dhari’s workplace in Bulawayo on countless occasions and realised that he was living large.
“Each time I visited him at work, I realised that they were making a lot of money. The timber business is very lucrative,” she said.
The court, however, advised Mawuta to make a new application of $100 000 if she wants an upward review of the monthly maintenance.
Mr Chipato ruled that Dhari should pay $6 000 after hearing his side of the story.
Dhari had told the court that he was sacked by his brother due to Mawuta’s violent behaviour.
He said Mawuta physically attacked his brother as she accused him of underpaying her husband.
Dhari said he now owns a pushcart which he uses to ferry people’s goods.
He refuted claims that he earns more than US$3 000 every month.
He described himself as a pauper and accused Mawuta of being behind his financial misfortunes.
“I used to work for my brother who sells timber but I was fired in December after Mawuta fought my brother, accusing him of giving me peanuts. After being kicked out of employment, I sent her packing.
“I could not stay with someone who was trying to break my relationship with my siblings,” he explained.
“I operate a pushcart which I use to ferry people’s luggage at Bulawayo’s taxi ranks. I am struggling to make ends meet.
“I know that my children come first, but in this instance, I have nothing to give them,” said Dhari.
