Maintenance as weapon to rekindle lost love

A MUTARE man applied for downwards maintenance variation and the mother of his child believes that it was an attempt to force her back into his life.

However, his plan failed as Olinda Munatsi could not agree to the downwards variation and opted for her ex-husband, Edward Chitanda, to have full custody of their child.

The two parties recently appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Xavier Chipato, when Chitanda was ordered to pay US$50 for the maintenance of his child sometime in September.

Before the ink of the ruling could dry up, Chitanda applied for a 50 percent downwards variation as he argued that the goods he sells at Bako Flea Market in Sakubva were seized by the police.

“My goods were recently seized by the police. I no longer have a stable source of income. I can only afford US$25 and for the child’s school fees, we can share the expense. I want her to chip in as a responsible mother since we are in the same line of business,” said Chitanda.

He also accused Munatsi of refusing to accept mobile money transfer as payment for the maintenance. In response, Munatsi said Chitanda’s application was a way of fixing her as she was spurning his attempts to rekindle their flame.

“This application was made to fix me. We are no longer on talking terms as he is always confessing his undying love for me. Unfortunately we are long past that stage,” she said.

Munatsi also accused Chitanda of lying that his goods were seized by the police.

“He is lying. On a good day, he can sell shoes worth US$500 because he trades as a wholesaler. I have been lenient with him to pay US$50 because it is nothing to him.

“If he feels like US$25 is enough to cater for our child’s expenses, he should have full custody of the child,” she said.

Mr Chipato dismissed Munatsi’s statement on the child’s custody and said she could make a proper application. He ruled that Chitanda should pay US$35 and half of the child’s school fees.