News / Local
Dad abandons kids for stepson
14 May 2014 at 07:21hrs | Views
A BULAWAYO woman yesterday alleged that her estranged husband who is taking care of his girlfriend's son, abandoned his four children more than ten years ago.
Faith Mpofu dragged her former husband Kanganiso Dube to the maintenance court demanding an upward review of her maintenance from $40 to $140. She accused Dube of lying about the number of children he has in order to pay less in maintenance.
"I do not know what that woman gave you because you are taking care of your stepson at the expense of your own children," said Mpofu.
She said Dube abandoned his family in 2002 when he decided to live with his girlfriend.
In response Dube pleaded with the court not to grant the order saying he had five other children to take care of. "Your worship, I am not able to pay $140 because I have five children to take care of. I have been paying $40 all this time and I do not see a reason for the increment," he said.
Dube said he could not live with all his children because he was renting a single room.
"I had to take my children to their grandmother as my girlfriend and I rent one room," he said.
Magistrate Victor Mpofu castigated Dube for not meeting his responsibilities as a father.
"You tell me that you deserted your own children to go and look after another man's child? There is no way you can use that as an excuse to avoid paying maintenance," said Mpofu who reviewed the monthly payment to $70.
Faith Mpofu dragged her former husband Kanganiso Dube to the maintenance court demanding an upward review of her maintenance from $40 to $140. She accused Dube of lying about the number of children he has in order to pay less in maintenance.
"I do not know what that woman gave you because you are taking care of your stepson at the expense of your own children," said Mpofu.
She said Dube abandoned his family in 2002 when he decided to live with his girlfriend.
In response Dube pleaded with the court not to grant the order saying he had five other children to take care of. "Your worship, I am not able to pay $140 because I have five children to take care of. I have been paying $40 all this time and I do not see a reason for the increment," he said.
Dube said he could not live with all his children because he was renting a single room.
"I had to take my children to their grandmother as my girlfriend and I rent one room," he said.
Magistrate Victor Mpofu castigated Dube for not meeting his responsibilities as a father.
"You tell me that you deserted your own children to go and look after another man's child? There is no way you can use that as an excuse to avoid paying maintenance," said Mpofu who reviewed the monthly payment to $70.
Source - chronicle
