News / Regional
Mayor defaults on $200 child maintenance
19 Mar 2012 at 11:46hrs | Views
Kariba Mayor Nicholas Hwindiri was recently slapped with a two-month jail sentence after being found guilty of defaulting on payment of maintenance amounting to US$200.
Magistrate Mrs Nyaradzo Ringisayi, however, wholly suspended the jail sentence on condition that Hwindiri (45) clears maintenance arrears due to Mauline Jamu (28) of Chikangwe Township, Karoi, through the clerk of court.
Hwindiri and Jamu have a minor child.
In November last year Hwindiri was sentenced to three months in jail by then Karoi magistrate Mr Archibald Dingana after he had also defaulted on payments due to Jamu.
In the first instance, Hwindiri had to spend a night in remand prison after failing to raise the US$800 in arrears.
On October 1, 2009, Hwindiri was ordered by the Civil Court to pay Jamu US$100 per month as maintenance.
However, between January 1 and October 31 last year Hwindiri defaulted on eight occasions, accruing arrears amounting to US$800.
This prompted Jamu to seek the intervention of the courts, leading to his brief incarceration.
He only tasted freedom the following day after friends and relatives came to his rescue.
In the second instance, Hwindiri again accumulated arrears of US$200, giving rise to another court order against him.
In mitigation, Hwindiri told the court that he was only paid a paltry US$190 monthly allowance by Kariba Municipality and therefore found it difficult to spare the US$100 needed to pay for the upkeep of Jamu and his child each month.
"I don't get a monthly salary.
"Actually I earn US$190 as allowance from the municipality.
"I am not able to pay the amount and am still running around in a bid to secure the money," he said, before adding that he also had five other children to take care of.
Magistrate Mrs Nyaradzo Ringisayi, however, wholly suspended the jail sentence on condition that Hwindiri (45) clears maintenance arrears due to Mauline Jamu (28) of Chikangwe Township, Karoi, through the clerk of court.
Hwindiri and Jamu have a minor child.
In November last year Hwindiri was sentenced to three months in jail by then Karoi magistrate Mr Archibald Dingana after he had also defaulted on payments due to Jamu.
In the first instance, Hwindiri had to spend a night in remand prison after failing to raise the US$800 in arrears.
On October 1, 2009, Hwindiri was ordered by the Civil Court to pay Jamu US$100 per month as maintenance.
However, between January 1 and October 31 last year Hwindiri defaulted on eight occasions, accruing arrears amounting to US$800.
He only tasted freedom the following day after friends and relatives came to his rescue.
In the second instance, Hwindiri again accumulated arrears of US$200, giving rise to another court order against him.
In mitigation, Hwindiri told the court that he was only paid a paltry US$190 monthly allowance by Kariba Municipality and therefore found it difficult to spare the US$100 needed to pay for the upkeep of Jamu and his child each month.
"I don't get a monthly salary.
"Actually I earn US$190 as allowance from the municipality.
"I am not able to pay the amount and am still running around in a bid to secure the money," he said, before adding that he also had five other children to take care of.
Source - zimpapers
