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Tanaka Mrewa Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO teacher will receive $450 maintenance from her ex-husband after blaming him for her financial woes. Barbara Ncube told magistrate Manasa Musiiwa that she was earning $119 per month after deductions because Innocent Ncube, her ex-husband, asked her to apply for two loans and squandered the money.

Barbara said Ncube was also not contributing towards the upkeep of their three children. “Your Worship, he made me apply for two loans claiming that we would use the money to buy a stand.

‘‘He also sold our car to supplement the money we had raised but he squandered all of it. ‘‘Now I’ve to struggle alone with the kids,” she said. Barbara said Ncube earns $745 per month.

However, Ncube disputed this saying his net salary was $650. He said he was also supporting a child sired with another woman. “He’s lying, there’s no other child and in all the 11 years we were together he never paid a single cent for maintenance for that child.

‘‘I confronted him about the child and he denied paternity,” said Barbara. She said her ex-husband was a heavy drinker and spends all his money on alcohol.

“All he thinks about is beer. He didn’t even buy the stand we took the loans for. ‘‘That’s why I’m applying for this amount so that it supplements what I’m paying to the bank. If I work on that arrangement, I can be able to look after my children.”

Musiiwa ordered Ncube to pay $450 for the upkeep of his children.