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Sukulwenkosi Dube, Plumtree Correspondent
A girl, 14, who dropped out of school after she fell pregnant, is struggling to take care of her five months old baby after the man who allegedly impregnated her deserted her.

Her mother on Monday dragged 35-year-old David Rwatiringa to the maintenance court seeking maintenance for her grandchild.

She said Rwatiringa, who was sentenced to perform community service at the Plumtree magistrate’s court last year after pleading guilty to having sexual intercourse with the minor, deserted her daughter and grandchild soon after the child’s birth.

She said the man was now disputing paternity of the child yet he had previously taken responsibility of the pregnancy while promising to fend for his new family.

The granny appealed to the court for $100 for the upkeep of her grandson.

“Rwatiringa impregnated my child while she was in school causing her to drop out of school.

He came to the house last year and apologised for his actions and promised to look after my daughter and grandson.

“He wrote a letter as confirmation of assuming responsibility for his actions.

He also promised to put my daughter back in school after she gave birth and promised to pay her fees,” said Ncube.

She said her daughter was still not attending school and Rwatiringa had left her with the responsibility of fending for her daughter and grandchild.

“Rwatiringa was misleading my daughter while she was in school.

He was taking her to bushy areas without my knowledge where he was having sexual intercourse with her and he even admitted this.

“I do not know why Rwatiringa is denying paternity when he had acknowledged at the beginning.

He is now trying to run away from assuming responsibility for his actions,” she said.

Rwatiringa denied signing a letter acknowledging responsibility of the pregnancy.

He said while he had sexual intercourse with the minor he was not the father of the child as she had been in love with several other men during the time they slept together.

Rwatiringa said he had on numerous occasions seen the minor at nightclubs and bars in Plumtree.

“I will not be paying any maintenance for the child as he is not mine.

I am not the only man that she has been sleeping with as I have seen her in bars on several occasions.

I did not acknowledge responsibility of the pregnancy as her parents are the ones who have been forcing me to wed their child,” he said.

The hearing will continue before Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa today.