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Tedious Manyepo Herald Reporter
A self-employed Harare man is demanding $400 from his ex-wife for the upkeep of their four minor children who are in his custody. The man, David Kuvheya, yesterday accused his former wife, Bridget Chirere, of neglecting the children since the couple separated. Chirere, however, offered to commit nothing as maintenance for the children, arguing that her former husband should take care of them since he is the one living with the children.

“I am not formally employed, Your Worship. I am surviving on doing menial jobs. “I want this woman to part with $400 for the upkeep of the children. She is gainfully employed as a pre-school teacher and is living large.

“I am also told that she was recently engaged by another pre-school institution. “I want the $400 to help me take care of the children,” he said.

Chirere disputed the figure saying she would only commit something if she is given custody of the children. “This man is lazy. He doesn’t want to work for himself, that is why he has decided to come here.

“He chased me away from his home and denied me the chance to be with my children. “Why has he decided to approach this honourable court with his weird demands? “Honestly speaking, I cannot offer anything for the children and he is lying that I am employed by two crèche institutions. “How on earth can that be possible? He should work for himself and the children. After all, I earn just $80 per month.

“How can someone in his normal senses demand such an amount?” she said. The magistrate, Ms Yeukai Dzuda, ordered Kuvheya to bring proof that Chirere actually has two employers today.

Meanwhile, a taxi driver, Shame Chisaka, will pay $180 per month towards the upkeep of his two minor children after he failed to turn up in court despite having been summoned.

Chisaka was supposed to appear before the court where his former wife, Mavis Nyoni, was demanding $250 for the upkeep of their two children. She argued that Chisaka was not married to another woman and had no other minor child to look after.

“He is a taxi driver leading a comfortable life. He earns in excess of $400 per month.

“It is possible for him to part with $250 per month for the children,” she said.