By Panashe Karidzagundi
A Beitbridge court has reduced monthly,aintenance for a man who sought a downward variation because he no longer works.
Athinandava Mbedzi had been paying $60 but sought to have it halved because of lack of regular income after losing employment.
Mbedzi appeared before Magistrate Mbonisi Kaweni and told the court of the changed circumstances that resulted in his financial situation significantly reduced following the termination of his job from Beitbridge Juicing.
The respondent, Christine Moyo, opposed the application, stating Mbedzi had a history of intermittent employment.
Moyo told the court that Mbedzi would often leave his job but got rehired raising concerns about the genuineness of his claim.
Moyo also told the court about the uncertainty as to whether the current loss of employment was linked to the maintenance obligations.
After considering submissions from both parties, Kaweni ruled that while circumstances had changed, a drastic reduction was not justified.
The court consequently varied the maintenance order from $60 to $55 per month, with effect from May 2026.