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Cynthia Dube, Court Reporter
A WOMAN from Nketa 7 suburb in Bulawayo has dragged her husband to court for maintenance arrears amounting to $2 000.

Ms Anna Foroma, a member of the Johane Masowe church, told Bulawayo Maintenance Court Magistrate Manasa Musiiwa that her husband Obert Mukweshi, a policeman, was ordered to pay maintenance in 2014 but only paid for a single month.Ms Foroma said nearly $2 000 in arrears must be garnished from her husband`s salary.

However, Mukweshi said he was no longer employed. Mr Musiiwa said he would only grant Ms Foroma` s application after she provided proof that her husband was a cop.

“Application for garnishee order is set aside until the applicant goes to the Ministry of Home Affairs and brings proof that Mukweshi is employed there,” he said.Ms Foroma said her husband always travels  from Bulawayo to work in Chegutu and Kwekwe  when duty calls.She said he was just giving excuses of being ill as he does not want to take care of his children.

“In 2014, the court told Mukweshi to deposit $70 per month for the upkeep of his one minor child and now we have two children and he deposited only $70 for the first month when the maintenance application was granted. I’m struggling to maintain our two children because l’m unemployed,’ Ms Foroma said.

In defence, Mukweshi said he was no longer employed and cannot afford to clear the $2 000 maintenance arrears.

“Your Worship, l’m currently unemployed and l am always ill. I`m diabetic and she knows that l was involved in a car accident and l am still paying hospital bills,” he said— @cynthiamthembo1.