News / Local
Woman claims maintenance from a 'stranger'
08 Aug 2014 at 09:32hrs | Views
A BULAWAYO magistrate says people should spend some time in courtship before jumping into marriage as this will help reduce the number of maintenance cases.
Magistrate Vivian Ndlovu said this when a woman who appeared before her after lodging a maintenance application revealed that she did not know where the father of her child worked and had never met his relatives.
Prisca Mavaya drew the ire of the magistrate who went on to say couples should not trivialise the marriage institution by having children out of wedlock when they knew nothing about each other.
Mavaya dragged her estranged lover Bonface Mleya to the Maintenance Court seeking $80 for the upkeep of their one-year-old daughter.
"I don't know where Bonface works or how much he earns. I don't even know any of his relatives," said Mavaya.
Livid magistrate Ndlovu had some choice words for her.
"What were you two talking about when you were still emotionally involved? You must get to know each other before you decide to have children. This man could've been a robber or a murderer for all you know. You have to understand the importance of marriage so as to avoid such situations," said the magistrate.
Mleya opposed the $80 maintenance claim saying he could only afford $30.
He said he earned $5 a day through offloading trucks.
The magistrate ordered Mleya to pay $40 for the upkeep of his daughter starting August 31.
She said if couples took time to know each other before having children and eventually getting married, it would be an important step towards reducing maintenance cases.
Ndlovu also bemoaned the plight of children that are born from divorced or separated couples, saying they are often poorly looked after.
This was after five men, including Mleya, yesterday offered to pay $30 for their children who are all under the age of two.
The magistrate's sentiments come barely a month after statistics indicated that the Bulawayo Maintenance Court recorded a 31 percent increase in cases since January this year compared to the same period last year. Last month's statistics revealed that 1,584 women sued for maintenance between January and June this year compared to 1,211 recorded during the same period in 2013. In 2012, the same court recorded 845 cases within the same period.
Magistrate Vivian Ndlovu said this when a woman who appeared before her after lodging a maintenance application revealed that she did not know where the father of her child worked and had never met his relatives.
Prisca Mavaya drew the ire of the magistrate who went on to say couples should not trivialise the marriage institution by having children out of wedlock when they knew nothing about each other.
Mavaya dragged her estranged lover Bonface Mleya to the Maintenance Court seeking $80 for the upkeep of their one-year-old daughter.
"I don't know where Bonface works or how much he earns. I don't even know any of his relatives," said Mavaya.
Livid magistrate Ndlovu had some choice words for her.
"What were you two talking about when you were still emotionally involved? You must get to know each other before you decide to have children. This man could've been a robber or a murderer for all you know. You have to understand the importance of marriage so as to avoid such situations," said the magistrate.
Mleya opposed the $80 maintenance claim saying he could only afford $30.
He said he earned $5 a day through offloading trucks.
The magistrate ordered Mleya to pay $40 for the upkeep of his daughter starting August 31.
She said if couples took time to know each other before having children and eventually getting married, it would be an important step towards reducing maintenance cases.
Ndlovu also bemoaned the plight of children that are born from divorced or separated couples, saying they are often poorly looked after.
This was after five men, including Mleya, yesterday offered to pay $30 for their children who are all under the age of two.
The magistrate's sentiments come barely a month after statistics indicated that the Bulawayo Maintenance Court recorded a 31 percent increase in cases since January this year compared to the same period last year. Last month's statistics revealed that 1,584 women sued for maintenance between January and June this year compared to 1,211 recorded during the same period in 2013. In 2012, the same court recorded 845 cases within the same period.
Source - chronicle
