Man sues wife over maintenance

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A BULAWAYO man yesterday took his wife of 10 years to court demanding maintenance of $200 per month for his upkeep and that of the couple’s three children.

A BULAWAYO man yesterday took his wife of 10 years to court demanding maintenance of $200 per month for his upkeep and that of the couple’s three children.

MTHANDAZO NYONI OWN CORRESPONDENT

Calisto Mapfumo made the application before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Victor Mpofu against his wife Charity Chitsa.

The couple was customarily married. In his application, Mapfumo said Chitsa deserted him eight months ago and did not contribute to the upkeep of the children.

He told the court that Chitsa told him that she would never live with the children because they were his.

“She is an irresponsible woman who does not want to stay with her own children. She lives by herself and I am the one who is suffering with the children.

“This is painful to the children because they usually ask me when she will come back home. These children need their mother,” Mapfumo said.

In her defence, Chitsa said Mapfumo was a liar because she visited her children at least three times a week and usually brought groceries for them.

“He wants to see me suffer. When I left in February for my rural home, he never attempted to follow me. He took my clothes and I was left with nothing to wear. I do not want to stay with him anymore,” Chitsa said.

Chitsa proposed to pay $20 per month for the upkeep of their three children.

However, to her disbelief, Mpofu ruled that Chitsa should pay $60 per month as maintenance. Mapfumo is employed at an insurance company and earns about $300 per month.

Their eldest child is 11-years-old.