$1,200 maintenance arrears, soldier gets prison sentence

A soldier with the Zimbabwe National Army has been sentenced to three months in prison after accruing $1,200 in maintenance arrears over a two-year period.

Mqabuko Moyo, who was facing charges of failing to pay maintenance, told the court that after his relationship with Melody Ndlovu collapsed in 2011, he started a new family and sent his child to the rural areas.

"Melody and I separated in 2011 and we both started new families. I sent my child to live with Melody's parents in 2012 and I would often send groceries there," said Moyo.

He claimed that he and Ndlovu made an out of court settlement in September 2012 after he was dragged to the maintenance court.

However, court records show that he was ordered to pay $60 a month from September 2012 but he stopped paying from November that year to June this year resulting in arrears of $1,200.

Magistrate Sibongile Msipa castigated Moyo for trying to deceive the court and failing to provide for his child.

"There's no way a court can make an order and then tell you to make an out of court settlement. You simply failed to look after your child," said Msipa.

Moyo pleaded guilty and paid $300 to cover the arrears.

The sentence was wholly suspended on condition he pays $900 by December.