Man claims to be too old to pay maintanance

IN a bid to avoid paying $200 maintenance for the upkeep of his two children, a Mutare man told the court that he is an elderly person and could not raise money for maintenance.

Paris Masasi (70) was hauled before the courts by his wife, Annah Masasi who accused him of abandoning his children. The couple appeared before Mutare magistrate, Venencia Mugota.

Masasi told the court that her elderly husband was neglecting his children.

She demanded that he pays $200 maintenance for their welfare.

"This man owns a grinding mill Your Worship. He realises a profit of $50 per week, therefore I pray that he pays $200 per month as maintenance. The burden of looking after the children is too much for me," she said.

In response, Masasi said he could only afford to pay $20 as maintenance since he was jobless.

"As you can see Your Worship, I am now an elderly man and I have nowhere to get the money she wants. I can only afford to pay $20 as maintenance. She is even lying that I own a grinding mill. I am leading a pauper's wife," he said.

His wife rejected the offer saying the amount was too little.

She said: "$20 is not enough Your Worship because the eldest child is paying $150 as school fees and the other one is paying $14 so if he gives me that little amount where can I get the balance?"

Mugota ordered him to pay $94.