RSS 2.0 FeedAugust 2011 - Vol 36, National News
Harare claims maintenance from two men for one child
A HARARE woman yesterday pleaded guilty to claiming maintenance amounting to over US$5 000 from two men for the same child.
Vimbai Tichawana (30) appeared in court accused of contravening Section 136(1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9;23.
Magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Jarabini remanded her out of custody to Monday next week for sentencing.
Tichawana said she committed the offence in a bid to fix one of the men, Owen Ruwanika, who owed her some money.
Prosecutor Mr Desire Mupudzi said Tichawana committed a very serious offence, which called for a custodial sentence.
"The accused committed the offence out of greed not need," he said. "She is self-employed as a hairdresser and earns an average of US$100 per month. She failed to produce any proof to authenticate her claims that she indeed withdrew the case against Ruwanika."
Mr Mupudzi said on May 4 2009, Tichawana applied for maintenance from Mandizvidza Musemburi for a child, Tanaka Wendy Musemburi, who was born on April 14, 2008.
The case was accepted in the civil court case number M169/09 where Musemburi was ordered to pay US$160 for the child every month.
Mr Mupudzi said since May 2009 up to August this year Musemburi was paying maintenance to Tichawana for the child.
On September 2 this year, it is alleged, Tichawana caused Ruwanika to appear in court claiming maintenance for Tanaka, now using the surname Ruwanika.
The court ordered Ruwanika to pay US$70 every month to Tichawana for the child whom she claimed was Ruwanika's.
The matter came to light after Tichawana wanted police to serve Musemburi with court papers claiming he was not paying maintenance.
The total amount received by Tichawana from the two men was US$5 030 and nothing was recovered.
