Bikita South Member of Parliament, Energy Mutodi, has proposed a monthly child support payment of US$30 in response to a maintenance claim filed by his ex-wife at the Masvingo Civil Courts.
As reported by <a href="https://tellzim.com/mp-mutodi-pleads-to-pay-30-maintenance-as-ex-wife-demands-1-5k/">TellZim News</a>, Mutodi’s ex-wife had requested US$1,500 per month for their six-month-old child, but Mutodi argued that his income was too low to meet that amount and that he could only afford US$30.
Mutodi, a businessman and lawyer who was previously a Deputy Minister, is also involved in land development.
After reviewing the arguments from both sides, Masvingo Magistrate Isaac Chikura ordered Mutodi to pay US$80 per month for child support, as the child’s mother, Polite Dhiyo, did not provide sufficient evidence to justify her request for US$1,500.
Dhiyo, who claimed she was married to Mutodi under customary law before their divorce, stated that the child was conceived and born during their marriage and that Mutodi had not provided financial support since the child’s birth.
In his defence, Mutodi, represented by lawyer Collen Maboke, explained that he had a low income and was supporting seven other children, including one enrolled at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST).
He also argued that his monthly income had averaged US$40 in the past five months after deductions, which was significantly lower than the amount Dhiyo had requested.
Mutodi further explained that he had financial obligations to another wife and justified his US$30 offer based on these circumstances.
He also provided proof to the court that he was paying for the child’s school fees, as the child is enrolled in a crèche.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Energy Mutodi and his ex-wife are fighting about child support. His ex-wife wants $1500 a month but Mutodi says he can only afford $30. The court decided Mutodi should pay $80 a month. Mutodi says he has a low income and supports many children. His ex-wife claims they were married traditionally. Mutodi says he pays for the child's school fees. The court agreed with Mutodi's $80 offer.

Energy Mutodi Offers US$30 For Child Maintenance, Ex-Wife Demands US$1 500

Simbarashe Chiimba, a 42-year-old soldier from Mutoko, was brought before the Nyanga Magistrates’ Court for failing to comply with a maintenance order.
On March 6, 2023, the court ordered Chiimba to pay a monthly maintenance of US$75 and ZWL$33,000 for the upkeep of his three minor children. This order was to take effect on March 31, 2023.
However, Chiimba defaulted on these payments from December 31, 2023, to June 2024, accumulating arrears of US$520.
The court sentenced Chiimba to 5 months’ imprisonment, but the sentence was wholly suspended on the condition that he pay all the outstanding arrears through the clerk of court by August 30, 2024.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

A soldier named Simbarashe Chiimba didn't pay money for his kids' upkeep. The court told him to pay $75 every month from March. But he didn't pay from December to June, owing $520. The court gave him 5 months in jail, but didn't send him if he paid all by August. Chiimba must pay by the deadline or go to jail. His story was in the news (Pindula News).

Soldier Sentenced For Defaulting Maintenance Payments

The late former President, Robert Mugabe’s daughter, Bona, is demanding US$8 100 per month in child maintenance from her estranged husband Simbarashe Mutsahuni Chikore (46) as maintenance for their three minor children.
Bona Nyapudzai Ouma Mugabe (32) is divorcing her husband of nine years on the grounds that their marriage has irretrievably broken down with no prospect of restoration.
She filed the papers at the High Court on Tuesday, 07 March 2023 under HC 1521/2023 seeking an order for a decree of divorce.
According to the court papers, Bona and Simba have lost all love and affection for each other and have been living apart for more than nine months.
The couple has three children aged seven, five and two.
Bona is claiming custody of the children and demanding US$2 700 per month for each child. She said:
<blockquote>
In the event of the granting of the Divorce Decree by the honourable court it will be just and equitable that the Defendant be ordered to pay maintenance for the minor children in the sum of USD2, 700.00 per child monthly, until attaining of majority status or they become self-sustaining whichever occurs first.
</blockquote>
Bona and Simba married in 2014 and the ceremony was attended by the political and business elite in Zimbabwe and outside the country.
The wedding was also broadcast live on the country’s only television channel, ZBC-TV.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Bona Mugabe Claiming US$8 100 Monthly In Child Maintenance

A University of Zimbabwe (UZ) final-year student has dragged his father to the maintenance court after he failed to pay tuition fees for his last semester, reported <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200007940/uz-student-drags-father-to-court-over-unpaid-fees">NewsDay</a>.
The student, Stanley Rusanga told the court that he was on the verge of deferring his studies over outstanding fees. He said:
<blockquote>
I am asking my father to pay the balance from the previous semester and settle this semester’s fees so that I can be able to register for my final semester.
</blockquote>
Stanley’s parents, Cleopas Tendai Rusanga, and his mother, Tapiwa Rusanga are divorced.
Cleopas admitted not paying the fees saying he lost his job last year.
His ex-wife also appeared in the same court demanding $250 000 per month from him for maintenance. Said Tapiwa:
<blockquote>
He is staying with another wife but we are still legally married. He has not been paying fees for his two children who are in University and I also want $250 000 for food and rentals.
</blockquote>
Cleopas told the court that he had remarried and was staying with a new wife whom he claimed also wanted money for upkeep.
Magistrate Ayanda Dhlamini ordered that Cleopas pay US$60 to his estranged wife as maintenance.
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

UZ Student Drags Father To Court Over Unpaid Fees

Musician Seh Calaz, whose real name is Tawanda Mumanyi, could be arrested for defaulting in paying $45 000 monthly maintenance for his minor child.
Harare magistrate, Judith Taruvinga, ordered Mumanyi to pay $45 000 in monthly maintenance fees effective 31 March 2022.
The Zimdancehall chanter is expected to provide support until the child reaches the age of 18.
Mumanyi was also ordered to deposit the money into the account of the mother of his child on or before the 30th or 31st of every month.
However, the musician is now in arrears, according to a letter from his ex-lover, Moira Knight, which she wrote through her lawyers. Part of the letter reads:
<blockquote>
Further to the Magistrates’ Court order requiring you to pay $45 000 monthly for the minor, we write to you to kindly make payments as required by law promptly without delay.
And, clear the arrears of amounts due, failure of which we are instructed to institute criminal proceedings, without further notice to you.
We trust that this shall not be necessary.
</blockquote>
The maintenance was broken down as $15 000 for food, $10 000 (rent), clothes $5 000, medicals $5 000 and ancillaries $5 000.
However, Seh Calaz claimed the figure was too high for him and revealed his intentions to lodge an appeal at the High Court. | <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/calaz-risks-arrest-chanter-defaulting-child-support-payments/">H-Metro</a>

Seh Calaz Risks Arrest After Defaulting On Child Support Payments

A Chitakatira man accused his wife of trying to convince him, on different occasions, to allow her to date wealthy men in exchange for cash so that the couple can make extra money.
Tendai Machiki made the allegations against his wife, Marvellous Machiki, when the couple appeared before Mutare magistrate, Xavier Chipato early this week.
Marvellous was seeking a protection order against her husband, whom she accuses of denying her conjugal rights for the past year.
She was also applying for $30 000 maintenance for her upkeep of the couple’s minor child.
However, Tendai turned the tables against his wife before the court and claimed he was denying Marvellous her conjugal rights because of her loose morals. He said:
<blockquote>
On many occasions, this woman whom I lawfully wedded, has approached me telling me that some rich men are asking her out and that I should allow her to date and sleep with them. She says this arrangement will see us earning extra money.
This is why I have moved out of our bedroom. I cannot sleep with a woman who harbours such kind of thoughts.
I am afraid that she might be sleeping with these men and I do not want to risk my life.
What shocks me is her persistence on the subject.
She thinks l am snubbing her in bed due to extra-marital relationships, but l do not have any.
</blockquote>
Tendai further alleged that Marvellous’ parents threatened to assault him when he tried to engage them over the issue.
Meanwhile, Marvellous told the court that Tendai is a womaniser who is in the habit of using women and dumping them. She said:
<blockquote>
He has a girlfriend and he has been selling our property to spoil her. He wants me gone, but I will not go anywhere because we bought the property together. Why should I leave and let him stay with another woman?
My parents threatened to assault him because he has used me and now wants to dump me.
</blockquote>
Marvellous did not confirm or deny approaching her husband with a proposal to date other men.
In his ruling, Chipato granted the protection order in Marvellous’ favour. The order will be valid for five years. He said:
<blockquote>
It is the court’s finding that there is an underlying issue causing disputes within your family.
In the best interest of justice, this court grants the protection order to the applicant and the defendant is barred from unreasonably disposing of matrimonial property, chasing her away from home, assaulting, insulting and disturbing her peace.
</blockquote>
Chipato also ordered Tendai to pay $5 000 as monthly maintenance towards his minor child.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/wife-asks-for-permission-to-bed-other-men/">The Manica Post</a></h4>

Woman Asks Hubby Permission To Date Wealthy Men

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:
<blockquote>
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.
</blockquote>
Togarepi said he had always been a responsible man and allowed his wife to keep all his bank cards. He said:
<blockquote>
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.
</blockquote>
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:
<blockquote>
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.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/battle-for-survival-family-to-receive-entire-salary/">The Manica Post</a></h4>

Man Returns From Business Trip And Finds Home Deserted

A <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Harare" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Harare</a> woman has demanded a staggering $11 000.00 monthly payment from her cellphone dealer ex-husband towards the maintenance of their three children.
Abigail Mutetwa (28), told magistrate Nyasha Marufu that her former husband, Lous Machira, is well able to pay $11 000 per month. She said:
<blockquote>Your Worship I have three children with this man (Machira) and now l cannot afford to look after them.
I am claiming this amount because my ex-husband has a table full of phones; so l know he can afford it.
I want Machira to pay $11 000 as maintenance because school fees and school uniforms are now expensive.</blockquote>
In his response, Machira pleaded with the court that he was incapable of raising the amount as it is way above his monthly income.
In her ruling, Marufu ordered Machira to pay $300 per month to cater for his three children.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/woman-demands-11-000" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Sunday Mail</a></h4>

Woman Demands $11 000 Per Month For Maintenance

Harare Magistrate Mrs Barbara Mateko dismissed Sulumani Chimbetu’s application in which he sought an order to reduce the maintenance fees for his two children with former wife Marygold Mutemasango.
He argued that the court had previously granted an order that he pays $500 for his two minor children without taking into account the amount of money he makes. Chimbetu said that he was only left to survive on $280 after paying maintenance for his two children. He also said Mutemasango was gainfully employed and led a comfortable life, a sign that she could cater for the children. He said that he was now dependent on his wife for sustenance.
However Mateko said that Chimbetu had failed to provide evidence of his income or standard of living as there were misdirections in some instances.
More: <a href="http://www.herald.co.zw/carry-your-cross-magistrate-tells-sulu/">Herald</a>

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