A Midlands State University (MSU) staffer has been taken to court by his ex-lover who is also a student at the same institution demanding an increase in maintenance to cater for his child with special needs.
Hope Dzapasi who was demanding that maintenance be reviewed from $600 to $2 130 per month, told Bulawayo magistrate Nomsa Ncube that the $600 that Tafara Mukute who is a deputy director at the institution’s IT Department was contributing towards the upkeep of their minor child who has special needs was insufficient following countrywide price increases.
“I want an upward variation from $600 to $2 130. The child has special needs and the above money that the respondent has been providing is not enough to cater for those needs due to the cost of living which has gone up. Hospital bills and groceries have gone up and the money is not enough to take care of the child,” she said.
To corroborate her claims, Dzapasi produced a quotation of the expenses showing that the amount which her ex-lover was contributing towards the upkeep of the child was not enough.
In response Mukute who claimed he was being paid $15 000 per month turned down Dzapasi’s claim saying it “was too high”.
He offered to pay $1 000 as monthly maintenance saying he was also looking after his pregnant wife and mother.
“It is too high since I also have a pregnant wife and mother I am taking care of,” he said.
Dzapasi, however, declined the offer arguing that it was too little to cover the needs of their child.
In her ruling the magistrate ordered Mukute to pay $2 000 as monthly upkeep for his child with effect from the end of this month.