Friday 15 August 2025
Crimes and Courts
Harare Magistrate Court – A 78-year-old retired man, Francis Nyandoro, has been dealt a legal blow after the Harare Civil Court ordered him to pay backdated maintenance and outstanding school fees for his two adult children.
Nyandoro appeared before Magistrate Faina Makumbe seeking termination of a longstanding maintenance order, arguing his obligations should cease as both children are now legally adults, with one gainfully employed.
Father’s Plea:
“My children are now over 18 years old, and one has secured employment. I request the court to relieve me of this order,” Nyandoro stated. He cited financial hardship following his retirement, claiming,
“After leaving employment, my income became unpredictable, making consistent payments impossible.”
Mother’s Counter:
The respondent, Zvisinei Diringa, challenged Nyandoro’s application, revealing he halted payments prematurely.
“He abandoned his financial responsibilities before the children came of age, leaving school fees unpaid. This debt prevented my son from collecting his A-level certificate,” Diringa testified. She demanded enforcement of the arrears.
Court’s Ruling:
Magistrate Makumbe dismissed Nyandoro’s financial hardship defense, ruling that while standard maintenance orders expire at adulthood, accrued debts remain legally binding.
“You must clear all arrears to avoid legal consequences,” she declared, ordering Nyandoro to settle both the maintenance deficit and educational debts.
The judgment underscores that parental financial obligations, once court-ordered, persist irrespective of a child’s age or a parent’s retirement.
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Crimes and Courts
Harare Magistrate Court – A 78-year-old retired man, Francis Nyandoro, has been dealt a legal blow after the Harare Civil Court ordered him to pay backdated maintenance and outstanding school fees for his two adult children.
Nyandoro appeared before Magistrate Faina Makumbe seeking termination of a longstanding maintenance order, arguing his obligations should cease as both children are now legally adults, with one gainfully employed.
Father’s Plea:
“My children are now over 18 years old, and one has secured employment. I request the court to relieve me of this order,” Nyandoro stated. He cited financial hardship following his retirement, claiming,
“After leaving employment, my income became unpredictable, making consistent payments impossible.”
Mother’s Counter:
The respondent, Zvisinei Diringa, challenged Nyandoro’s application, revealing he halted payments prematurely.
“He abandoned his financial responsibilities before the children came of age, leaving school fees unpaid. This debt prevented my son from collecting his A-level certificate,” Diringa testified. She demanded enforcement of the arrears.
Court’s Ruling:
Magistrate Makumbe dismissed Nyandoro’s financial hardship defense, ruling that while standard maintenance orders expire at adulthood, accrued debts remain legally binding.
“You must clear all arrears to avoid legal consequences,” she declared, ordering Nyandoro to settle both the maintenance deficit and educational debts.
The judgment underscores that parental financial obligations, once court-ordered, persist irrespective of a child’s age or a parent’s retirement.
Zim GBC News | Global News From An African Perspective©2025