HARARE – Zimbabwe National Army Brigadier-General and medical doctor Celestino Bhasera was yesterday ordered to contribute US$1 000 towards the upkeep of his two minor children.
His Congolese estranged wife, Yvonne Bhasera, was seeking $15 000 as maintenance for herself and two children. She wanted the civil court to grant her US$2 000 as her maintenance fee and US$6 500 per each child.
The presiding magistrate, Ms Tendai Rusinahama, reduced the figure to US$1 000. In her ruling Ms Rusinahama told Yvonne that being married was not a bread ticket to life. She said Yvonne also had the obligation to look after herself and the children.
Ms Rusinahama said the court found no proof about Brig-Gen Bhasera’s income and therefore US$1 000 coupled with school fees of US$2 800 per term was justified.
“Applicant put forward that Brig-Gen (Bhasera) earns above US$20 000 while he disputed this saying his income is slightly above US$2 000,” said Ms Rusinahama.
“It is not in dispute that he is a Government employee who practises as a medical doctor on a part-time basis. There is no proof whether surgeries are being rented or not as well as the farm.
“Applicant is also a qualified medical doctor and businesswoman who decided not to work and became a full-time housewife.”
Ms Rusinahama added that Yvonne was not able to prove how much Brig-Gen Bhasera earns from his relations with UNDP. “The door is still open to come for upward variation when you get proof,” she said.
Yvonne said she is legally married to Brig-Gen Bhasera under the Democratic Republic of Congo laws equivalent to Zimbabwe’s Chapter 5.11.
In her claim, Yvonne argued that Brig-Gen Bhasera earned about US$20 000 per month and was seconded to UNDP. She also said Brig-Gen Bhasera, also a qualified medical doctor, owns 20 surgeries, a farm and a bar to say the least.
In this case, Yvonne argued that her claim was reasonable under the circumstances in view of the lifestyle she and the children are accustomed to. In his counter argument, Brig-Gen Bhasera had offered US$800.
In her claim, Yvonne claimed that her husband was earning more than US$20 000 from his surgeries and several business interests.
She wanted the money for her self-upkeep and their two children. The DRC born woman had stated that she wanted to commit US$6 500 for each child and the remainder was to maintain her current lifestyle.
“I know he is in a position to pay that amount because he earns about US$20 000 from his surgeries, bar and the money he is earning from UNDP. He is a medical doctor operating three surgeries which are in Budiriro, Machipisa shopping centre and in town.
“We also have a farm and a bottle store that he is receiving rentals from and getting at least US$2 500 per month. He earns US$9000 per month from his job at UNDP. We got legally married in DRC in the year 2000 and the marriage is equivalent to chapter 37 here in Zimbabwe.
“It is unfortunate that the marriage is not registered here. The problem started when he left us some ten months ago and left me with the children. I am having problems in raising the school fees, food and clothes,” she said
But the court granted her US$1 000 in maintenance fees and ordered the army boss to pay the children’s school fees as well. The court also noted that Yvonne was a qualified medical Practitioner who had decided not to pursue her career to commit herself to other businesses.
Bhasera had initially offered to pay US$800 for the up keep of his children. He told the court that Yvonne was a successful businesswoman who owns Duty Investments- a company that exports coal and cigarettes to DRC.
“I was forced to move out of the matrimonial home after Yvonne was granted a protection order against me sometime in October last year.
“She is a violent woman and I am not of that nature and I found it best to move out. I wish to submit to this court that this woman’s claims are excessive to what I can afford; first and foremost my marriage with this woman is not registered in this country.
“I am legally married to Tendai Bhasera and my marriage to Yvonne is not registered here. She found me with everything that she claims to have helped to build. I acquired all this with my wife Tendai.
“She is a very successful businesswoman who has a big coal exporting company and at one point I helped her to keep US$96 000 in our house.
“Her claims are unreasonable and exaggerated because some three months ago she made a claim of US$1 000 and barely three months later she wants US$15 000. Inflation is at 4.2% per annum and her claim is ridiculous,” he said. Magistrate Tendai Rusinahama presided over the matter.
