Man asks ex-wife to put their children in 'an orphanage for safe-keeping'

A Harare woman on Friday told the Civil court that her ex-husband wants their children checked into an orphanage because he could not fend for them.

Plaxedes Masimba told magistrate Rebecca Kavhiya that her ex-husband, Jaravaza Chikwanda had recently tabled the bizarre proposal.

This emerged after Chikwanda dragged Masimba before the Harare Civil Court seeking custody of their two children.

"I told him to help me take care of the children and he told me to send them to an orphanage for safe-keeping," she told the court.

"He does not care about his children."

Chikwanda denied Masimba's allegations alleging she was jealous because he had married another wife, whom he said was willing to take care of the children.

Masimba took the children without his consent and sent them to stay with her mother.

"She is not employed and does not have a place to stay and ever since she took my children they are not going to school," Chikwanda complained.

Chikwanda alleged Masimba was a spendthrift and blows cash he gives her for the children's sustenance.

Masimba refuted her ex-husband's allegations, saying he does not care for his children.

She told the court that Chikwanda did not allow the children to go out, locks them in the house each time he travels.

"The children used to escape through the window and come to my house begging for food. He used to leave them with sadza and freezits before I took them," Masimba said.

Magistrate Kavhiya ordered the two to come back to court for continuation.