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Patient Sibanda, Court Reporter
A ZIMBABWE School of Mines student yesterday pleaded with a court to free him from paying $30 monthly maintenance for his minor child, saying he was penniless as he was still pursuing his studies.

Tafadzwa Takafakare, 22, of Bulawayo’s Montrose suburb, dragged his girlfriend Esnath Gatya of Mahatshula suburb, to the Maintenance Court demanding that maintenance payments for their child be suspended.

Takafakare told magistrate Tinashe Tashaya that since January, he had failed to raise the money for the upkeep of his nine-month-old child following a court order directing him to pay $30 each month.

“I’m a student at the Zimbabwe School of Mines doing a National Diploma in Mining Geology. I’m focusing on my studies. I don’t have means of getting money as I’m being supported by my parents,” he said.

Gatya told the court that she was against Takafakare’s application.

“He was ordered to pay $30 in January this year and he hasn’t paid even a dollar. I’m against his application. I beg the court to dismiss it,” she said.

Magistrate Tinashe Tashaya dismissed Takafakare’s application and ordered him to continue paying $30 for the upkeep of his minor child.