By Tendai Rupapa
Sungura ace Alick Macheso’s estranged wife, Tafadzwa Fortunate Mapako, was today expected to file an appeal at the High Court challenging the civil court’s decision to award her US$1 030 in maintenance.
Tafadzwa had claimed US$7 130 from Macheso at the Civil Court, but magistrate Mr Tafadzwa Muvhami slashed the amount to US$1 030. She wants Macheso to carry the burden of looking after her and the children. Her lawyer, Mr Gift Nyandoro, yesterday confirmed they were appealing today.
“The court misdirected itself by ordering equal contribution for maintenance towards accommodation, water and electricity bills yet it had made a finding that Macheso is a person of means while our client is a person of no means because she is not employed.
“Secondly, the court erred in strictly adhering to basic necessities while completely ignoring the lifestyle which in this case applied to our client because she had been introduced to that high standard of life by Macheso,” said Mr Nyandoro.
He insisted that Tafadzwa was entitled to a driver, gardener and a maid as she had them before the dispute. Tafadzwa and Macheso are expected to go for DNA tests to determine paternity of the children on or before June 6 this year as ordered by the court.
In his ruling, Mr Muvhami said in the absence of witnesses to testify that Macheso gave Mapako a divorce token (gupuro), he was liable to maintain her until she died or she remarried.
Macheso, through his lawyer Mr Norman Mugiya of Mugiya and Macharaga Law Chambers, had offered to pay US$150 towards the upkeep of his two children. The Herald
