Court rejects bid to reduce child maintenance

A Harare man has failed in his attempt to reduce monthly child maintenance payments after the Harare Civil Court ruled that his circumstances had not significantly changed to justify a variation.

Shadreck Kunyeda had approached the court seeking a reduction of maintenance from US$50 to US$20 per month for the minor child he shares with his former partner, Daphne Chapfika.

Kunyeda told the court that he was no longer reporting for work and could not afford the current maintenance amount.

"I am no longer going to work, so the US$50 is too much for me," he said.

However, Chapfika opposed the application, arguing that she has borne full responsibility for the child's upkeep since their separation in 2022.

She told the court that she had endured severe financial challenges, including a period when she had to send the child to stay with her sister-in-law while she sought accommodation with a friend due to lack of rent money.

"US$20 is not enough to maintain a child; he should be serious," she said.

Kunyeda maintained that he was struggling financially and also supporting two other children, adding that he would notify Chapfika once he resumed work. He insisted he could only manage US$20 per month under his current circumstances.

In her ruling, Magistrate Johanna Mukweshe dismissed the application, stating that Kunyeda had failed to prove a material change in circumstances.

The court noted that a letter submitted by Kunyeda indicated he had not been dismissed from employment but was expected to be reinstated.

Magistrate Mukweshe ruled that the existing maintenance order remains in force, ordering Kunyeda to continue paying US$50 per month for the upkeep of the minor child.