DJ Fantan and ex-wife clash in court over child ma...

DJ Fantan and ex-wife clash in court over child maintenance, grocery receipts take center stage

*Happier Times DJ Fantan and Gamuchirai*

Edward J Damba

Zim Now Writer

In a battle of he-said-she-said, DJ Fantan and his former wife, Gamuchirai Nemukuyu, faced off in the Harare Civil Court yesterday regarding child maintenance for their two children.

Nemukuyu requested a court-ordered US$300 per month from DJ Fantan to support their children. However, the renowned record producer contested the amount.

DJ Fantan argued that he was already taking care of their children's needs, including school fees, rent, groceries, and clothes. To bolster his claim, he presented a grocery receipt reflecting a US$1,500 purchase.

Nemukuyu threw a wrench into DJ Fantan's defense. She declared the grocery receipt a fake, stating she had never seen evidence of such a substantial purchase. Furthermore, she asserted she did not require his assistance with rent payments, having moved in with a new husband.

Undeterred, DJ Fantan proposed presenting witnesses or video recordings showcasing him buying groceries for the children alongside their mother at a tuckshop. He maintained his stance as a responsible father, fulfilling his children's desires.

Magistrate Johanna Mukwesha weighed in, emphasizing that maintenance is a shared obligation. While acknowledging DJ Fantan's efforts, she deemed the US$300 request excessive. The final decision landed on a US$100 monthly maintenance payment from DJ Fantan.

This case highlights the complexities of post-divorce co-parenting, particularly concerning finances. The debate regarding grocery receipts and who provides what for the children raises questions about transparency and accountability.