Gibson Mhaka
Gladness Dube from Nkulumane 5 suburb apparently courted the anger of Bulawayo provincial magistrate in charge Enias Magate, who was hearing the case in which she was suing the father of her child, Mthokozisi Nkomazana when she excessively blushed instead of responding to a string of questions posed to her by the magistrate.
The blushing came after she had hotly debated with the magistrate while arguing that her ex-lover who is employed as an accountant by Ernst and Young should pay $6 000 per month as monthly maintenance and not the $4 500 which was stated in her papers.
She was adamant despite being repeatedly asked by the magistrate if she knew how much her ex-lover was earning since the amount to be paid is calculated based on the respondent’s salary or monthly income.
“Don’t blush, we are in court. Just answer the questions that I have asked you. We are not part of your problems, so if you have problems with the father of your child don’t include us,” charged the magistrate.
Dube, who is a student at the United College of Education (UCE) in Bulawayo, seemed to also have courted the magistrate’s anger when she suddenly altered her claim after Nkomazana consented to it without objections saying it was in the best interest of his child.
“I am sorry Your Worship. I decided to alter the amount he is supposed to pay because I am not the one who came up with it. It was just put by officials from a women’s organisation that assisted me to draft the suit since they didn’t know how much he is being paid per month.
Meanwhile, the money he offered is not enough since the child is taking baby formula and he has not been supporting the child for the past two years. I’m also a student and I can’t meet some of the child’s expenses,” she said.
In response Nkomazana didn’t dispute his ex-lover’s initial claim.
“I earn $14 500 per month and I don’t have any problem paying $4 500 per month since it is in the best interest of my child and I also have no other children yet,” he said.
The magistrate briefly stood down the matter allowing Nkomazana to bring his payslip or bank statement to ascertain his claim that he was really earning $14 500 per month. After he brought the bank statement, Nkomazana was subsequently ordered to pay $5 000 per month towards the upkeep of his child with effect from the end of this month.
