Child support has traditionally been framed as periodic payments from non-custodial parents to custodial parents, aimed at sharing the financial responsibility of raising children. However, this system often fails to meet the nuanced needs of modern families. It is fraught with challenges such as enforcement difficulties, inequities in custody arrangements, and the high legal costs borne by custodial parents, particularly single mothers, who already shoulder the emotional and financial burden of raising a child alone.
In response to these challenges, we propose a new approach to child support inspired by the Setswana cultural concept of “Tigo Lebele”. This concept traditionally referred to a one-time payment made by the father for damages, absolving him from future responsibility for the child. In the context of the modern child support system, we seek to adapt this traditional idea into a comprehensive, government-managed child support program that can better serve children, parents, and society as a whole.
Drawing from “Tigo Lebele”
In Setswana culture, “Tigo Lebele” (or “damages”) was a practice where a father made a single, large payment in recognition of his responsibilities toward a child born out of wedlock. The payment served as compensation for damages and removed any further parental obligations, except in cases where the father chose to be involved in the child’s upbringing, often based on mutual agreement. This traditional practice highlighted the financial burden placed on the mother’s family, which collectively raised the child.
However, the practice also reflected the irresponsibility of some fathers who, after fathering children outside of marriage, failed to provide adequate support. The modern equivalent of “Tigo Lebele” would acknowledge the reality that many non-custodial parents, whether through inability or unwillingness, fail to meet the ongoing financial needs of their children.
The One-Time Child Support Model
Under this new model, unmarried fathers and other non-custodial parents would make a one-time, substantial child support payment. This lump sum would be calculated based on various factors including:
- The income of the non-custodial parent
- Potential future earnings
- The expected cost of raising the child through to adulthood (including education, healthcare, housing, etc.)
This single payment would relieve parents of the burden of making regular child support payments, shifting the financial responsibility to a government-managed program designed to meet the child’s basic needs.
For divorced parents, the court could offer a choice between the traditional child support model and the proposed one-time payment, depending on the degree of involvement and financial capability of the non-custodial parent.
Government-Managed Support Programs
The funds generated from the one-time child support payments would be deposited into a government-run program to address the child’s ongoing needs. The government, benefiting from economies of scale, would be better equipped to meet these needs in a structured, sustainable manner.
Key features of the proposed government-managed program include:
- Provision of Basic Needs: The program would ensure that children receive the essential necessities, such as food, clothing, housing, healthcare, and education. This also includes psychological support services and private tutoring for children who require extra academic assistance. By pooling resources, the government can leverage its capabilities to provide these services more efficiently than single parents.
- Community Farms and Skills Development Initiatives: To help custodial parents and their children become more self-sufficient, the program would include community farms and skills training programs. These initiatives would focus on creating food security and improving the employability of single parents, fostering opportunities for long-term financial independence. Parents could receive training in agriculture, business management, or other relevant skills.
- Family Unit Development: Recognizing the importance of strong family structures, the program would encourage the formation of new family units by supporting single parents and their children in creating stable, nurturing environments. Community support networks would be fostered to create a sense of belonging and security, while offering practical support for single parents to balance work, parenting, and personal well-being.
Addressing Parental Rights and Responsibilities
The current child support system often places the primary financial responsibility on the non-custodial parent, with many fathers only minimally involved in their children’s lives. In many jurisdictions, fathers who do not have custody may be denied access to custody or guardianship rights, often reducing their role to one of financial contributor only. Given the difficulty non-custodial parents often face in meeting their child support obligations, it stands to reason that the State should take a more active role in supporting the well-being of children.
This proposal offers a solution by forcing recalcitrant parents into structured financial responsibility through a system of government-administered loans that must be repaid over time. By doing so, we ensure that non-custodial parents who fail to meet their obligations are still held accountable, while the custodial parent and child benefit from reliable, ongoing financial support.
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