Court Orders Man to Pay US$50 Monthly Child Maintenance

A Harare court has ruled that a man must pay US$50 per month in child maintenance after his ex-partner took him to court. The man, a bus conductor, had argued that he could only afford US$20 per month. However, the magistrate ruled that both parents have a legal duty to support their child and ordered the father to cover half of all school expenses .

The case was brought before the court by Esther Mpofu, who sought US$150 per month in maintenance for their 10-year-old child. The child's father, Tobias Makumbirofa, opposed the application, citing his low income and claiming that he could only afford US$20 per month. He also argued that he had two other children with another wife, whom he was also supporting .

Magistrate Hannah Fazilahmed ordered Makumbirofa to pay US$50 per month in child maintenance and to meet 50% of all school-related expenses. The magistrate emphasized that both parents have a shared legal responsibility to provide for the welfare of their child, regardless of personal disputes or income levels .