DIANA NSOFWA writes
@SunZambia
A LUSAKA man faces arrest for contempt of court arising from failing to pay child maintenance as ordered by the Chilenje local court.
Ezekiel Zimba, 32, was told by Local court Justice Ackim Phiri in the Chilenje court that he should clear the arrears or be arrested for contempt for court for failing to obey a court order.
Mr Phiri told Zimba to take responsibility for his child’s education, clothes and food, saying that was his job as a father.
In mitigation, Zimba said he was a bread winner and asked for the court’s leniency.
The court ordered him to pay K125 to avoid arrest.
In another case, Aaron Ngungwa, 41, of Mtendere East, has been ordered to pay K600 per month as child maintenance.
This is in addition to school schools and medical bills in case of illnss. Ngungwa has also been advised that the child maintenance allowance would be reviewed upwards each year.
This is in a case which Susan Kawisha, 30, of Bauleni compound, sued Ngungwa for child maintenance.
She told the court that the couple separated in September 2017 and that the man was now married to someone else.
The man did not pay dowry and did not support the children since 2017. She said when she took the children to her husband, he failed to keep them and sent them to his parents.
Kawisha said she was not happy with the arrangement.
Local court justices Ackim Phiri and Kalunga Chansa told the parents that they did not want the children on the streets.
“None of you is lame. Even those who are physically challenged pay attention to their children,” Justice Chansa said.
The court ordered Ngungwa to ensure children are taken of or be would be in trouble.