'Dr Zobha' gets ultimatum to pay maintenance

Veteran radio and club disc jockey Davies Mugadza was given an ultimatum to pay US$669 in maintenance arrears for the upkeep of his child by December 19 this year.

Mugadza (39) appeared before magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe last Friday after a warrant of arrest was issued against him. This follows non-payment of maintenance to his former girlfriend, Vimbainashe Ngara.

Mugadza told Mr Mahwe that he paid up the arrears and produced bank deposit slips supporting his claim.

He also told the court that Ngara had endorsed an affidavit that she had indeed received the money.

"Your Worship, I paid up. When the warrant of arrest was issued I then paid the money through her bank account.

"She was rushing to work and signed this affidavit confirming that I paid. I can produce the affidavit as proof," he said.

However, prosecutor Fransisca Mukumbiri objected to the production of the affidavit, saying it was not possible to accept the affidavit in the absence of the complainant.

Mr Mahwe then ordered Mugadza to pay up the maintenance arrears with the Clerk of Court by December 19.

The court heard that Ngara had an affair with Mugadza which produced a child.

The court heard that, sometime in July 2010, Ngara took Mugadza to the Harare Civil Court seeking an upward variation for the maintenance of the child.

Mugadza was then ordered to pay US$160 per month with effect from July 31.

He was also ordered to pay for the child's school fees, all school requirements and also to buy a full set of casual clothes for the child.

Ms Mukumbiri told the court that Mugadza had failed to honour a ruling made by the Civil Court.

The DJ failed to buy clothing for his child in December 2013 and April 2014.

Mugadza also failed to pay US$170, meant for his child's trip to Nyanga. During the maintenance hearing, Ngara claimed Mugadza had other sources of income as he was the famous "Dr Zobha".