Musician Seh Calaz’s ex-wife, Moira Knight, has been granted ZWL$45 000 by a Harare magistrate after the estranged couple’s maintenance dispute spilt into the courts.
In her application, Moira claimed US$1 050, and US$2 450 as a once-off payment and an equal share of the two’s matrimonial property and medical fees.
However, Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga rejected Moira’s claims and instead ordered Seh Calaz, real name Tawanda Mumanyi, to pay $45 000 as monthly maintenance effective 31 March until the child reaches the age of 18. Taruvinga ruled:
She was demanding US$300 for rentals, US$120 (electricity), US$45 (gas), US$100, US$110 (clothes) and transport US$100.
The monthly maintenance of US$1 050 is above the respondent’s income and in my view not realistic.
The respondent is ordered to pay $45 000 as monthly maintenance effective March 31st until the child reaches the age of 18.
Moira will furnish the clerk of court with her local banking details.
The maintenance has been broken down as $15 000 for food, $10 000 (rent), clothes (5 000), medicals (5 000), utilities ($5 000) and ancillary ($5 000).
Meanwhile, Seh Calaz’s lawyer claims the order is unrealistic and based on “speculative evidence as well as inadmissible evidence.”
The musician said he will appeal against the magistrate’s decision at the High Court.