Court orders father to find ADHD son suitable school

A Harare Civil Court has intervened in a child welfare dispute, ordering parents to jointly cover the costs of a suitable school for their 17-year-old son, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), after allegations that the father was denying him an education.

The ruling, delivered by Magistrate Hannah Fazilahmed, followed an application by Caroline Chibaya for a US$250 monthly maintenance order against her ex-husband, Alfred Mandido. Chibaya told the court that Mandido had kept their son at home for the past year, seeking traditional healing while preventing him from attending school. She expressed serious safety concerns, stating that the teenager often went missing for days under his father's care. Chibaya said she wished to place the boy in a rehabilitation-focused boarding school.

Mandido, claiming to be the child's primary caregiver, offered US$50 per month in maintenance, explaining that he was a hustler with no formal employment and earned roughly US$150 monthly.

Magistrate Fazilahmed ruled that both parents must share the costs equally, including school fees and uniforms, and instructed them to identify a school suitable for special needs children. The magistrate also advised Chibaya that she could not claim maintenance while the child resides with the father and urged her to seek a custody order and involve the police if the education deprivation persists. Fazilahmed emphasised that denying a child access to school is a violation of Zimbabwean law.

In a separate matter, the court issued a default maintenance judgment against architect E C Matiyenga, ordering him to pay US$300 monthly for the upkeep of his two minor children, aged seven and four, after failing to appear in court. The application, filed by Faith Mushonga, originally sought US$640 per month. The magistrate considered Matiyenga's reported income of approximately US$1,000 per month and his obligations to other dependants, including four children living in the United Kingdom, before setting the monthly payment at US$300, effective January 31, 2026.

The rulings highlight the court's commitment to enforcing child welfare and maintenance obligations, ensuring children receive access to education and adequate support from both parents.