Macheso offers $150 maintenance

Sungura ace Alick Macheso yesterday offered to pay $150 towards the upkeep of his two children sired with Tafadzwa Fortunate Mapako.

Mapako, through her lawyers Mr David Ngwerume and Gift Nyandoro of Hamunakwadi, Nyandoro and Nyambuya law firm, is demanding $7 130 monthly maintenance for her needs and the upkeep of her two minor children.

However, Macheso disputed the amount saying he could not afford it. Magistrate Mr Tafadzwa Muvhami is expected to deliver judgment in the case today.

The case has aroused interest among the public as witnessed by the attendance in and outside the court premises yesterday.

The courtroom packed, prompting the court orderly to question why people had flooded the court.

As the two camps made their way out of the court, hundreds of people mobbed Macheso's car cheering him before doing the same to Nyadzisai, calling her "Amai".

Tafadzwa could have encountered the worst day of her life as the mob turned to her calling her a "prostitute" and a "gold digger".

Her lawyers had to provide cover. In her application, Mapako stated that Macheso is legally liable to maintain her and the two minor children since they are still legally married.

Her lawyer Mr Nyandoro added that Macheso earns a lot of money since he is a renowned artiste and an ambassador for various entities.

"It is in the public domain that Macheso earns a lot of money through his shows and from various entities such as Red Cross, Baker's Inn and Nash Paints where he is an ambassador. If he is saying that he took these roles for free, then something is wrong with his management.

"Macheso is lying to the court that he earns between $800 and $1 000. If he earns that money, where was he going to get the $1 000 plus he had initially offered as maintenance, is it a case of miracle money?

"We are not talking of Kapfupi here but Macheso who is a local, regional and international artiste and can charge more than $6 000 per show.

"To Macheso $7 130 is just a drop in the Kariba Dam. He is just running away from his responsibilities," he said

He also told the court that it was Macheso who walked out of their marriage, not the other way round.

"The respondent alleges that he gave our client a divorce token but the question is, where is the proof? If it was Mapako who ended the four-year marriage, why then is Macheso giving her a divorce token instead of Mapako giving him the token?"

Mr Nyandoro accused Macheso of making a counter application demanding DNA tests, adding that he should make a separate application.

In response Macheso through his lawyer, Mr Norman Mugiya of Mugiya and Macharaga Law Chambers, said he could not afford to pay that amount as he was an ordinary musician employed by Orchestra Mberikwazvo earning between $800 and $1 000 depending on the fortunes of that month.

Mr Mugiya added that at law Macheso was not liable to maintain Mapako.

"Your Worship, I think Mapako should direct her claims to Macheso as an individual not to the band since he is an employee to the band and being paid by a manager.

"She thought she would get a meal certificate from Macheso as Fortunate thinks she might be fortunate enough to get that money. Where is the tangible evidence that my client has other means of getting money?" he added.

He accused Mapako of picking people from nowhere to make them file affidavits claiming to be her driver and landlord.

"I think this so-called driver was picked from Mbare and employed this morning as a driver. It's common cause that kids catch a cold and in the case of Alick Junior who Mapako alleges is of ill health, it's just a cold which can be cured by pain killers so what does she need $900 for?"

Mr Mugiya further said there was nothing irregular with Macheso's first wife Nyadzisai filing a supporting affidavit.

He said Nyadzisai was Macheso's only wife following Tafadzwa's fall from grace.

"I pray that the court orders an interim figure of $150 which is a whopping figure for Mapako and to order paternity tests to be conducted by May 30," he said.