Woman lashes at magistrate over maintenance

A BULAWAYO provincial magistrate has threatened to recuse himself from a maintenance case he is handling after a Harare-based woman who is the applicant, accused him of bias.

Damson Zuwa applied for a maintenance variation order against her former lover Lincolin Ushamba from $200 to $350 a month. The money is for the upkeep of her six-year-old child.

Zuwa acused Sheunesu Matova of bias, saying he was quizzing her on irrelevant issues which had nothing to do with her application.

Matova, however, denied any wrongdoing and said he was prepared to recuse himself from the matter.

Zuwa said Matova was asking her about the maintenance of her 18-year- old son with a different man which had nothing to do with the application before him.

She accused Matova of delving into her personal life instead of dealing with the application to review the monthly maintenance amount.

"You did question me about my major son still under maintenance and said he has to be taken off maintenance. This has nothing to with my application," said Zuwa.

Matova adjourned the case saying he wanted to write a letter to authorities recusing himself from the case.