News / National
Woman wants maintenance from son-in-law
11 Apr 2015 at 09:15hrs | Views
A GREEDY Mutare woman was this week left with egg on her face after the court ruled that she cannot claim maintenance from her son-in-law as she was not the custodian of her grandchildren.
Lucia Mtemanari had dragged her son-in-law, Douglas Mhumhi, to Mutare Civil Court, accusing him of neglecting his two children despite being gainfully employed. Mtemanari had applied for $200 maintenance for the two children, but only $40 was granted for one minor child since she does not stay with the other child.
Mrs Yeukai Chigodora presided over the matter. Mtemanari told the court that her grandchildren both had school fees arrears amounting to $855.
"One of my grandchildren is in Form Four and the other in Form Six, which means that they are all examination candidates this year, yet he has not paid anything towards their examination fees," she said. She also said she only stayed with one of her grandchildren, while the other stayed with her daughter, the children's mother who has since been married to another man.
Mhumhi agreed with what his mother-in-law was saying, but also informed the court that he was not in a position to pay the said amount because he was going through a rough patch. He said he could only afford to pay $50 for both children.
Mrs Chigodora, however, informed Mtemanari that she was not in a position to apply for maintenance for a child she does not stay with. "You are only entitled to apply for maintenance for the child you stay with. If Mhumhi is being negligent towards his other child who is staying with her mother, let your daughter come and apply for a maintenance order. The child who is staying with her mother does not concern you since you are not the custodian parent," said Mrs Chigodora.
Mtemanari, however, would not have any of it claiming she was supporting both children even the one staying with her daughter. "Your Worship, even though my grandchild stays with her mother, I support her financially. I also buy her clothes and even food because she is staying with a step-father. I am a farmer and so I give half of my farming produce to my daughter to feed my grandchild."
She later complied with the ruling after the court advised her to inform her daughter to apply for maintenance if the father was being negligent.
Lucia Mtemanari had dragged her son-in-law, Douglas Mhumhi, to Mutare Civil Court, accusing him of neglecting his two children despite being gainfully employed. Mtemanari had applied for $200 maintenance for the two children, but only $40 was granted for one minor child since she does not stay with the other child.
Mrs Yeukai Chigodora presided over the matter. Mtemanari told the court that her grandchildren both had school fees arrears amounting to $855.
"One of my grandchildren is in Form Four and the other in Form Six, which means that they are all examination candidates this year, yet he has not paid anything towards their examination fees," she said. She also said she only stayed with one of her grandchildren, while the other stayed with her daughter, the children's mother who has since been married to another man.
Mhumhi agreed with what his mother-in-law was saying, but also informed the court that he was not in a position to pay the said amount because he was going through a rough patch. He said he could only afford to pay $50 for both children.
Mrs Chigodora, however, informed Mtemanari that she was not in a position to apply for maintenance for a child she does not stay with. "You are only entitled to apply for maintenance for the child you stay with. If Mhumhi is being negligent towards his other child who is staying with her mother, let your daughter come and apply for a maintenance order. The child who is staying with her mother does not concern you since you are not the custodian parent," said Mrs Chigodora.
Mtemanari, however, would not have any of it claiming she was supporting both children even the one staying with her daughter. "Your Worship, even though my grandchild stays with her mother, I support her financially. I also buy her clothes and even food because she is staying with a step-father. I am a farmer and so I give half of my farming produce to my daughter to feed my grandchild."
She later complied with the ruling after the court advised her to inform her daughter to apply for maintenance if the father was being negligent.
Source - manicapost
