News / National
Drama as man refuse to pay maintenance
11 May 2014 at 09:48hrs | Views
THERE was drama at the Mutare civil courts after a man vehemently refused to pay maintenance to his wife who was claiming $460 from him.
Appearing before senior Mutare magistrate Mrs Sharon Chipanga, Tafadzwa Dodzo, who is employed by one of the diamond-mining firms at Chiadzwa, refused to pay maintenance arguing that he would not pay maintenance to a woman he was staying with.
"I am actually surprised that my own wife is taking me to court. I cannot pay maintenance because I am still staying with her. I do not see the wisdom in paying maintenance. I have been taking care of her and our children very well and now she is dragging me to the courts because she just does not want me to assist my younger brother who is now at university," said Dodzo.
When she was asked to respond, Dodzo's wife, Melody Dube, described Dodzo as an irresponsible man who does not know how to handle his finances.
"He is irresponsible and he never pays our rentals on time. He earns $900, but when I ask him for money, he never gives me enough.
"That is why I want this court to help me. If he pays maintenance I won't have problems taking care of my children and other things around the home," she said.
In response Dodzo said: "I do not earn $900, rather I get $570. She is lying. In fact she is the one who is irresponsible. When I give her money, she squanders it. At one point she said she wanted to start a business, but all the money I gave her was wasted."
In her ruling, Mrs Chipanga dismissed Dodzo's argument saying: "If you were doing all the things you are claiming, your wife would not be here. Instead of using the money yourself, you can just give it to her so that she does not complain."
To Melody she said: "I have looked at your husband's pay slip and he does not earn $900. The $460 you are claiming is therefore unrealistic. For your welfare and that of the children, he will be giving you $150 which will be garnished from the bank. He will continue to pay school fees and rentals, but buying of groceries is now your responsibility."
Appearing before senior Mutare magistrate Mrs Sharon Chipanga, Tafadzwa Dodzo, who is employed by one of the diamond-mining firms at Chiadzwa, refused to pay maintenance arguing that he would not pay maintenance to a woman he was staying with.
"I am actually surprised that my own wife is taking me to court. I cannot pay maintenance because I am still staying with her. I do not see the wisdom in paying maintenance. I have been taking care of her and our children very well and now she is dragging me to the courts because she just does not want me to assist my younger brother who is now at university," said Dodzo.
When she was asked to respond, Dodzo's wife, Melody Dube, described Dodzo as an irresponsible man who does not know how to handle his finances.
"He is irresponsible and he never pays our rentals on time. He earns $900, but when I ask him for money, he never gives me enough.
"That is why I want this court to help me. If he pays maintenance I won't have problems taking care of my children and other things around the home," she said.
In response Dodzo said: "I do not earn $900, rather I get $570. She is lying. In fact she is the one who is irresponsible. When I give her money, she squanders it. At one point she said she wanted to start a business, but all the money I gave her was wasted."
In her ruling, Mrs Chipanga dismissed Dodzo's argument saying: "If you were doing all the things you are claiming, your wife would not be here. Instead of using the money yourself, you can just give it to her so that she does not complain."
To Melody she said: "I have looked at your husband's pay slip and he does not earn $900. The $460 you are claiming is therefore unrealistic. For your welfare and that of the children, he will be giving you $150 which will be garnished from the bank. He will continue to pay school fees and rentals, but buying of groceries is now your responsibility."
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