A father in Harare offered to pay only $5 per child in monthly maintenance for his two school-going children. He claimed to the court that he only earns $15 a month from odd jobs.
The father, Sifelani Mutsuto, was taken to court by his ex-wife Tendai Mupeteteri who demanded $190 in monthly support for their Form 1 and Grade 6 children. Mutsuto claimed his new wife was supporting him and accused Tendai of abandoning the children after their divorce in 2017.
Tendai disputed his financial claims, arguing that Mutsuto had misused the money she sent while working in Botswana.
The magistrate ordered Mutsuto to pay $60 per month in maintenance and cover half of the children’s school fees, which is more than the $5 per child totaling $10 that he had initially offered to pay for both kids.
