A BULAWAYO magistrate has granted a 56-year-old woman $40 maintenance as a “deterrent” to her 66 year old husband who has sired three children with three women over the past three years.
Samuel Mpofu, a pensioner earning $130 a month was dragged to the Maintenance Court by Thandiwe Mhlanga who was aggrieved by her husband who had an affair with three women and further impregnated them.
Magistrate Vivian Ndlovu said the court found that Mhlanga was aggrieved by Mpofu who fathered three children when they are both already struggling financially.
“The respondent offered $20 but the court is of the view that $40 will make the respondent stop impregnating women and support the applicant,” she said.
Mhlanga was demanding $70 as maintenance for herself because she realised that her husband’s money was being diverted to the children adding that she was going to use the money to buy groceries, electricity and pay rent.
“Your worship, my husband was a teacher before he retired. He went back to work in 2010 as a temporary teacher. He was receiving both salary and pension money. What usually surprised me is that he used to give me $20 or $50 and when I asked him how he had used the money, he would tell me not to bother myself about that,” Mhlanga said.
“In August this year, I received a message from him saying he was sorry he has no money. He is maintaining three children, the oldest one being 3 years, the other two were born this year in May and July.”
She told the court that she now wanted her share of money and wants to let her children use their money as they please as they have been looking after her from the year 2010.
“The pension money can sustain us but how is he going to take care of these children as we are struggling right now?” she said.
Mpofu admitted that he has three children born from 2011 and told the court that he sent the message to his wife because it was now hard for him to support the children.
He added that he could afford to maintain her with $20 every month because he is no longer employed and he is in debt.
“Your worship, I owe Ekuphumuleni Old People’s home because my mother-in-law is admitted there. I took a loan and I am also trying to pay the builder who is building us a house at our rural home. The money that she is demanding is too much,” Mpofu said.
