A city man has accused his ex-wife of embarrassing him by getting him arrested during his wedding ceremony.
Innocent Chitsika claimed that Resinita Chitsika orchestrated for his arrest particularly on the day he was tying the knot with his new wife as a way of degrading him. He was arrested on allegations of maintenance default.
He raised this complaint before civil court magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa when he applied for maintenance downward variation. Chitsika wanted the money to be varied from $300 to $80 for two minor children.
“Your worship I am no longer employed and I cannot afford to pay $300 per month as maintenance for the children. I was engaged as a cross-border trader but my travel documents are being held at the criminal court as part of my bail conditions. I was arrested on my wedding day for failing to pay maintenance.
I was however paying maintenance and school fees for my children but I was using the wrong channel. I was paying school fees directly to the school instead of depositing the money into the respondent’s bank account,” said Chitsika.
He added: “As a result she got me arrested. I think what pushed her to do so was because of the bitterness which was caused by the fact that I was marrying another woman. What she was not aware of was that the wedding was sponsored by my wife since she has the money. I could not take part in the wedding preparations because I had and still do not have money. I am praying for a downward variation to avoid being arrested again. I do not have a source of income as it stands. What I know is that I can afford to pay $80 as maintenance for my children,” said Chitsika.
Resinita however argued that Chitsika was doing quite well financially but was just not interested in taking care of the children. “If he can afford a white wedding I’m sure he can afford to spare $300 per month for his children. He has not been paying maintenance like he should because he is sating he is paying arrears. I have been struggling to take care of the children on my own. He has been neglecting his responsibilities yet he is applying for a downward variation. It is not fair on the children and certainly not to me. I pray that his application be dismissed,” argued Resinita.
Gofa dismissed Chitsika’s application citing that there were changes in his circumstances as he was not gainfully employed when his first order was granted. Hence there was nothing in the reasons he had given that warranted the granting of a downward variation.