Man disowns wife

A city man amused the court gallery when he disowned his supposed wife during a maintenance hearing.

Benedict Tapfumanei said he was not staying with Christine Manyane who had claimed that the two are husband and wife and are currently staying together.

"I do not stay with her. She is staying at her parents' house. I stay with my wife and child," said Benedict.

Christine had claimed US$200 as maintenance for the upkeep of their nine months old baby.

"I want US$200 for one child. I am unemployed and I do not have any other source of income. We are staying together with the responded. I need money for rentals, food, and medicals. He owns two cars that he uses to transport second-hand clothes from the border to the city.

"He earns about US$600 per month. He only has one other child with his wife," said Christine.

Benedict offered to pay US$30 per month arguing that he did not own any vehicles but worked as a water boy at his mother's joint.

"I fetch water for my mother where she cooks sadza and she gives me US$10 per week. I do not have any car and I do not deal with second-hand clothes. I used to work there as a porter but not anymore.

"I do not even stay with her like she is claiming. She stays with her parents and I do not know why she is saying she wants money for rentals," argued Benedict.

Presiding magistrate Barbra Mateko deferred the matter to Thursday.