Ex-MDC-T councillor falls on hard times

Former MDC-T councillor for Ward 19 in Mkoba, Gweru, Clemence Kwaru, has fallen on hard times as he is failing to take are of his child that he sired with his ex-wife.

Kwaru, 48, of Mkoba Village 15, was ordered in 2010 to pay $115 a month as maintenance for his minor child. The money was supposed to be paid to Kwaru's ex-wife, Netsai Berita, a primary school teacher.

Kwaru has been failing to pay the monthly instalments from December last year up to July this year resulting in the amount accruing to $920.

He appeared before Gweru magistrate, Florence Nago, facing charges of contravening the Maintenance Act and was sentenced to nine months in prison.

She suspended four months of the sentence on condition that Kwaru does not commit a similar offence within a period of five years.

A further five months were suspended on condition that the ex-councillor clears the maintenance  arrears through the clerk of court before month end.

Kwaru, who lost his Ward 19 seat in last year's 31 July harmonised elections and resigned from his job with the National Railways of Zimbabwe recently, said he could no longer afford to pay child support as he was out of employment.

Daniel Tafuma prosecuted.