Struggling pastor offers $15 for child upkeep

AN Apostolic Faith Mission pastor in Chitungwiza has fallen on hard times and can only afford to pay $15 for the upkeep of his minor child.

Brighton Madhori said this at the Chitungwiza Civil Court on Thursday after being sued by his former wife Calista Mutsatsa who was claiming $200 from him. Madhori told magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa that he was not able to pay school fees for his 14-year-old child as he had no reliable source of income.

"I am struggling to make ends meet. I can pay only $15, but I cannot afford to give her money for school fees," he said.

"I sometimes buy and sell clothes and only realise about $45-$50 per month, but since 2011, things took a downturn and I'm failing to raise capital to start a small business."

Mutsatsa refuted the claims and told the magistrate that the pastor had a carpentry venture and could afford the money.

"He is a liar! When we stayed together we rented a full house and our monthly expenses amounted to $500.

"He is a pastor and also does carpentry," she told the court.

Magistrate Gofa told Madhori to work hard for the upkeep of his child and ordered him to pay $120 per month, with effect from August.