19 Nov 2013

Fathers have been urged to take responsibility of their children’s upbringing and welfare.

This call was made by Senior Magistrate Daniel Nkau of the Tsabong Magistrate Court recently. He explained that caring for and supporting a child was the responsibility of both biological parents. Mr Nkau however noted that fathers usually had a tendency of neglecting their children.

He therefore urged fathers to refrain from neglecting their children, but they should instead take responsibility of their children’s upbringing by caring for and supporting them at all times. He advised them to provide for their children’s physical, emotional, educational and material needs.

“Fathers should be committed and interested in the maintenance and upbringing of their children and both parents should share the responsibility of upbringing their children,” he said. “Failure to do so could result in punishment by the law.”

Mr Nkau pointed out that being unemployed is not an excuse for not caring for one’s children, saying that a committed father would do anything to provide for his children.

Furthermore, he said that it was a duty of every parent to maintain personal relations with his or her child and therefore advised fathers to develop a relationship with their children.

“A relationship between a parent and a child is very important as it creates an environment in which children respect their parents and can easily turn to them for help and guidance when the need arises,” he added. “A relationship between a parent and a child also creates a platform in which a parent is able to provide direction and guidance to the child.”

He advised fathers that they should develop a character in which their children do not fear them but respect them. He said that fathers must be approachable for the benefit of their children.

He said that fathers should contribute in the psychosocial support of their children. He said that children need love, support, guidance and care just as much as they need food and shelter.

Fathers should always be available at all times to meet the social, mental, emotional, physical and spiritual needs of their children. Mr Nkau also pointed out that every father has the right to see and care for his child.

He advised fathers that in cases in which they are denied access by anyone to see and care for their children they should approach relevant authorities such as courts of law for intervention and help so that the problem may be solved and for them to be given access to their children’s upbringing.

He urged married partners of fathers who are already married to support their partners in caring and providing for their children born out of wedlock. On other issues, the senior magistrate advised couples who are getting married to refrain from getting themselves into unnecessary debts such as huge bank loans for the wedding ceremony, saying that marriage should be something that a couple enjoy but debts make it un-enjoyable and contribute to most marriage breakdowns and depression.

He therefore advised partners not to entertain situations in which they will end up in debts. He said that when in marriage one has to be able to care for his children, him or her and the partner. Ends