News / National
Man offers maintenance to silence ex-girlfriend
31 Jan 2015 at 01:31hrs | Views
IN a bid to stop his former girlfriend from interfering with his marriage, a Penhalonga man offered more money as maintenance.
However, this was turned down by the presiding magistrate after considering his level of income.
Martin Katakwa and Susan Chipfawaena appeared before Mutare magistrate Mrs Sharon Chipanga on January 23, with Chipfawaena claiming $100 as maintenance.
It emerged in court that Katakwa earns $196 per month.
Chipfawaena and Katakwa had agreed on the money, with the latter trying to appease his troublesome girlfriend whom he accused of interfering with his marriage.
Said Chipfawaena: "I am claiming $100 as maintenance because we discussed this with him before and reached an agreement. I will not trouble him if my application is granted. His wife does not know that he has a child out of wedlock.
"I know that he earns $196, but he has not been taking care of his child for long now. Besides that, this is something we talked about before coming here."
When asked whether he was in agreement with this claim, Katakwa replied in the positive saying they had discussed the issue and was willing to pay $100 as maintenance to silence her though it was a high amount considering his income.
"Of course, we agreed on the amount she is claiming as maintenance. I am willing to pay it as a way of buying her silence. I cannot risk my marriage, so I will do whatever it takes.
"Even though we agreed, the amount is high and if she could understand she can reduce the amount to amount $65," said Katakwa.
After receiving submissions from both parties, Mrs Chipanga said: "Considering that Katakwa earns $196 per month and he has another wife, this makes it impossible for the court to order him to pay $100 as maintenance.
At the same time the mother also has a responsibility of taking care of the child too. Since she is into buying and selling, it means she can also bring something to the table. Therefore the court will not rule as per your agreement, but will make an order depending on the level of income and the number of children.
"With effect from January, Katakwa is ordered to pay $65 as maintenance."
However, the order did not go down well with Chipfawaena who expressed disappointment over it.
However, this was turned down by the presiding magistrate after considering his level of income.
Martin Katakwa and Susan Chipfawaena appeared before Mutare magistrate Mrs Sharon Chipanga on January 23, with Chipfawaena claiming $100 as maintenance.
It emerged in court that Katakwa earns $196 per month.
Chipfawaena and Katakwa had agreed on the money, with the latter trying to appease his troublesome girlfriend whom he accused of interfering with his marriage.
Said Chipfawaena: "I am claiming $100 as maintenance because we discussed this with him before and reached an agreement. I will not trouble him if my application is granted. His wife does not know that he has a child out of wedlock.
"I know that he earns $196, but he has not been taking care of his child for long now. Besides that, this is something we talked about before coming here."
When asked whether he was in agreement with this claim, Katakwa replied in the positive saying they had discussed the issue and was willing to pay $100 as maintenance to silence her though it was a high amount considering his income.
"Of course, we agreed on the amount she is claiming as maintenance. I am willing to pay it as a way of buying her silence. I cannot risk my marriage, so I will do whatever it takes.
"Even though we agreed, the amount is high and if she could understand she can reduce the amount to amount $65," said Katakwa.
After receiving submissions from both parties, Mrs Chipanga said: "Considering that Katakwa earns $196 per month and he has another wife, this makes it impossible for the court to order him to pay $100 as maintenance.
At the same time the mother also has a responsibility of taking care of the child too. Since she is into buying and selling, it means she can also bring something to the table. Therefore the court will not rule as per your agreement, but will make an order depending on the level of income and the number of children.
"With effect from January, Katakwa is ordered to pay $65 as maintenance."
However, the order did not go down well with Chipfawaena who expressed disappointment over it.
Source - Weekender
