By Panashe Karidzagundi
A Beitbridge man has been ordered to pay US$120 per month in child maintenance after reaching a consent agreement with the mother of his three children.
The applicant, Sibusisiwe Dube, appeared before Magistrate Mbonisi Kaweni on Monday this week seeking for $150 maintainance for their three children, aged 8, 12 and 15.
Dube told the court that she survives on seasonal piece jobs, earning an average of US$150 to US$160 per month, which she said was insufficient to meet the children’s needs.
She also told the court that the respondent, Andrias Maseko, is employed at Nottingham Estate, earning about US$171 per month, and has no other wife or children to support.
Dube said whenever she asked him for money to support the children, he would insult her instead of assisting.
In his response, Maseko acknowledged his responsibility to maintain the children but explained that his financial situation had been affected by a loan repayment.
He told the court that US$32 is deducted from his salary every month to service the loan.
Despite the deductions, Maseko offered to pay US$120 per month in maintenance.
Dube indicated that she had no objection to the proposal.
The court, by consent of both parties, ordered Maseko to pay US$120 per month for the maintenance of the three children.
The maintenance order will remain in force until each child reaches the age of 18 years or becomes self-supporting.