Man Returns From Business Trip And Finds Home Deserted
A man from Mutare, Manicaland Province, who was away on business came back home to find his house empty as his wife had moved out with the couple’s children without his knowledge.
The matter came to light at the Mutare Civil Courts last week on Thursday where Josephine Makoni was claiming her husband, Brighton Togarepi’s entire salary as maintenance for their four children.
Makoni revealed that she decided to abandon the couple’s matrimonial home in his absence, saying he had not been paying rentals for their lodging.
In her application, Makoni was seeking $28 000 maintenance for the upkeep of the couple’s four children.
However, Togarepi told the court that he could not afford the amount as he was repaying bank loans he had obtained at his wife’s request.
He said the loans were used to finance Makoni’s cross-border trading business interests. Said Togarepi:
After acquiring all these loans and squandering the money, she moved out with all the property and children.
This happened during my absence as I was deployed out of the city.
I only realised that the house was empty when I was given some off days yesterday (Wednesday) and came back home.
She took away my clothes. I only have the clothes that I am putting on.
Togarepi said he had always been a responsible man and allowed his wife to keep all his bank cards. He said:
I have always committed all of my salary towards the upkeep of my family.
This woman has been keeping my bank cards until recently when I was deployed elsewhere.
However, I would still send her all the money so that she could look after the children.
Despite that, as soon as she heard about our salary increment, she rushed to court to apply for maintenance.
This shows just how greedy she is. I have never neglected my family.
Makoni however, disputed some of her estranged husband’s assertions, saying she never forced him to acquire bank loans to sponsor her business.
Togarepi told the court that he now takes home $18 000 and offered it all to his family. Magistrate Chipato agreed. He said:
The court cannot give you the $28 000 you want as your husband does not have it.
Your husband is offering you all of the money that he gets and so you should at least let him have some of his allowances so that he survives too.
