News / Local
Polygamous man hit with $2,800 maintenance demand
14 Nov 2015 at 03:00hrs | Views
A BULAWAYO woman is demanding $2,800 monthly maintenance from her polygamous husband for her upkeep as well as that of their two children.
Sinikiwe Sinala of Malindela suburb told magistrate Adelaide Mbeure that her husband, Mongameli Sinala, was not taking care of his family.
The magistrate will deliver judgment on November 20. Sinikiwe, who is the first wife, said her husband who is employed by a local butchery as a cattle buyer, was neglecting her and the children.
She said her husband was also not paying water bills on time resulting in supplies being cut. "My husband earns about $6,000 a month but doesn't buy enough groceries to sustain me and the boys. He only pays water bills after we've been cut off and it's the same with electricity bills," said Sinikiwe.
She said she wanted to be paid $500 for holiday; $480 for incidentals; $375 for food and $120 for the gardener.
Sinikiwe said she also needed $1,500 for school fees every term and $200 for car insurance among others.
"I need some money to cater for holiday expenses. My children need to tour places like Victoria Falls during school holidays. I also need some money to pay for my car insurance as I'm finding it hard to cope with the expenses," said Sinikiwe.
She said under the present arrangement she pays the maid while her husband pays the gardener but she wanted this to change.
"Mongameli pays the gardener and I pay the maid but this has to change. I should pay the gardener as well," she said.
Sinikiwe said her husband also makes additional money from his poultry and cattle fattening projects.
In his response, Sinala said he earns a net salary of $1,800. He said he was taking care of four other children and a wife.
Sinala said it was not true that he was not fending for his family as claimed by Sinikiwe.
"I pay rates, water and electricity bills and also buy groceries every month. She is the one who gives me the list of grocery items and the quantities she requires," said Sinala.
He said Sinikiwe was also realising some income from her horticulture projects at the family farm and he was not getting anything despite the fact that he was providing all the inputs and paying the workers at the farm.
Sinikiwe Sinala of Malindela suburb told magistrate Adelaide Mbeure that her husband, Mongameli Sinala, was not taking care of his family.
The magistrate will deliver judgment on November 20. Sinikiwe, who is the first wife, said her husband who is employed by a local butchery as a cattle buyer, was neglecting her and the children.
She said her husband was also not paying water bills on time resulting in supplies being cut. "My husband earns about $6,000 a month but doesn't buy enough groceries to sustain me and the boys. He only pays water bills after we've been cut off and it's the same with electricity bills," said Sinikiwe.
She said she wanted to be paid $500 for holiday; $480 for incidentals; $375 for food and $120 for the gardener.
Sinikiwe said she also needed $1,500 for school fees every term and $200 for car insurance among others.
"I need some money to cater for holiday expenses. My children need to tour places like Victoria Falls during school holidays. I also need some money to pay for my car insurance as I'm finding it hard to cope with the expenses," said Sinikiwe.
She said under the present arrangement she pays the maid while her husband pays the gardener but she wanted this to change.
"Mongameli pays the gardener and I pay the maid but this has to change. I should pay the gardener as well," she said.
Sinikiwe said her husband also makes additional money from his poultry and cattle fattening projects.
In his response, Sinala said he earns a net salary of $1,800. He said he was taking care of four other children and a wife.
Sinala said it was not true that he was not fending for his family as claimed by Sinikiwe.
"I pay rates, water and electricity bills and also buy groceries every month. She is the one who gives me the list of grocery items and the quantities she requires," said Sinala.
He said Sinikiwe was also realising some income from her horticulture projects at the family farm and he was not getting anything despite the fact that he was providing all the inputs and paying the workers at the farm.
Source - chronicle
