(Last Updated on November 18, 2015 by Editor)
ZIMBABWE – A city man denied being a businessman before the maintenance court but that he was a mere gardener who struggled to make ends meet.
Gibbs Takwita was dragged to the Harare civil court by his ex-wife Tabitha Masekena demanding US$680 per month for the upkeep of their child.
Tabitha told the court that Gibbs earned a good sum of money and could look after the child by offering the money she was demanding.
“He is a business man; I need US$680 per month for maintenance. His monthly earnings add up to US$800.
“He has got a number of shops back in his rural home. His child needs money for crèche and he can pay that.
“He also does other jobs around in town,” said Tabitha
In response Gibbs denied ever being a business man.
“I am surprised that she is saying I am a business man, I do not even know where she got that.
“She really knows that I am gardener, I work in Marlborough. I can only offer her US$20 to pay my children’s school fees.
“The children are even staying with my father in-law.
“The reason she has come here claiming for maintenance is that she is already staying with another man yet we haven’t finished discussing about the issue of children.
“I can only pay the money I offered or I am taking my children,” he said.
Presiding magistrate Barbara Mateko requested Tabitha to furnish the court with evidence that Gibbs earned the money she had stated.
She failed to prove to the court and the magistrate proceeded to rule that Gibbs pay US$30 per month effect from November 30.