By Auxilia Katongomara
An elderly woman broke down in court yesterday as she narrated how she was denied her conjugal rights by her husband who goes to bed with his clothes on.
Florence Chipikiri, 55, of 7488/6 Pumula North, who sought maintenance from her estranged husband Shadreck Chipikiri, 66, said the couple has been on separation since 2009.
“He has no valid reason to tell the court why he left me but the problem started when he began sleeping with his shorts and trousers on,” she charged.
“He would stay at work for more than a week without coming home and reduced the quantity of groceries he brought home.”
The emotional Chipikiri told Bulawayo magistrate Sibongile Msipa that her husband had defaulted paying maintenance for the past three months.
She said she was forced to look for a tenant to augment her income after Chipikiri abandoned her, preferring to stay at his workplace in the city centre.
On December 18, last year, the court ordered Chipikiri to pay $50 monthly maintenance to his wife with effect from December 31.
Chipikiri only paid for December and January, but defaulted in February, March and April, accruing $150 in arrears in the process.
“My wife is very violent. She often beats me up. It is the reason why I sought to divorce but the challenge is I cannot afford legal fees to go through with it,” said Chipikiri.
Magistrate Msipa reminded Chipikiri that defaulting on maintenance payments was a crime.
“You are not single. You are still very married to this woman and you must pay maintenance for her until she dies or till she remarries, which I doubt considering her age now,” said Msipa.
In mitigation, Chipikiri said he had four children and was self employed realising between $150 to $200 per month. He paid $50 and was ordered to pay the outstanding $100 by 30 June. The Chronicle
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