A SENIOR police officer in Plumtree has been dragged to court by his wife of 15 years for allegedly neglecting their four children. Ethel Mutale, 45, who is a teacher at a primary school in Plumtree, said her husband, Fanuel Mutale, 40, stopped paying school fees and buying food for his children aged four, 12, 14 and 18 years while allegedly concentrating on his mistress.She told Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa, she wants $436 as maintenance for the four children after citing that she was struggling on her own.
Fanuel, who is an Assistant Inspector stationed at Madlambudzi Police Station, accused his wife of making exaggerated demands. He threatened to resign from his job in a bid to avoid paying maintenance.
“The money that my wife is demanding is too much. She just wants to fix me because I’m with another woman and she is jealous that we’re happy together. She expects me to pay $100 a month towards groceries for the children. That is too much Your Worship. Such money can buy groceries for a wedding ceremony.
“If she maintains that she wants this much money then I’ll resign and go to South Africa. I’ll leave her with the children,” said Fanuel. He said he was prepared to pay $150 towards the upkeep of the four children as his wife was also a working woman.
Fanuel said he had other responsibilities and he was not prepared to part with the bulk of his money for the upkeep of his children.
“My wife is also working and her salary is almost equal to mine. Therefore, she also has to contribute towards the financial needs of the children. I only earn $586, inclusive of allowances. Deducting $436 would be unreasonable,” said Fanuel.
Ethel said her husband had not contributed anything towards the upkeep of their children since January. She said she owed $836 in unpaid school fees. Ethel said Fanuel was refusing to settle the bill which accumulated over the past years.
In her list submitted to the court on the needs of the children Ethel said she required $163 for school fees, $100 for groceries, $50 for crèche fees, $50 for both casual and school clothing and $40 medical fees, among other expenses.
Ruvetsa ordered Fanuel to pay $198 maintenance fee for the four children, noting that the couple had to contribute equally towards the upkeep of their children.
“Out of the request made by the applicant to receive $436, I’ve deducted $40 which she had said was for the children’s medication considering that they already have medical cover. This brings the amount down to $396.
“However, the duty of fending for the children has to be shared between both spouses and in this case both of you are working. Therefore, respondent you’ll pay $198 for maintenance of the four children,” he said. chronicle NEWS
No comments:
Post a Comment