Reverend Msindo jailed over $10 000 debt

THE High Court has slapped Destiny for Afrika Network leader Reverend Obadiah Musindo with a 90 day civil imprisonment sentence for defying a court order to pay a debt of more than $10 000 to prominent Bulawayo modelling agency owner, Ms Sipho Mazibuko.

The debt arose in 2012 when Rev Musindo asked Strides Models pageant run by Ms Mazibuko to assist with scouting for beautiful models that were going to take part in the Miss Carnival pageant that year on behalf of the cleric's company.

According to the summons filed at the Bulawayo High Court under case number HC 1903, Ms Mazibuko claimed $10 135 in respect of chaperoning services, hire of models, attending to photo shoots and provision of modelling garments for a modelling event held in Harare in May 2012 at the defendant's specific request.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese yesterday ordered Rev Musindo to pay Ms Mazibuko $500 per month starting on October 31 until the debt together with the costs of the suit are fully paid, failure of which he would be imprisoned for 90 days.

Justice Makonese's ruling follows an application for civil imprisonment by Ms Mazibuko through her lawyers, Job Sibanda and Associates, citing Rev Musindo and Destiny for Afrika Network as the defendants.

"It is hereby ordered that a decree of 90 days civil imprisonment is issued against the defendant suspended on condition that the defendant pays $500 per month with effect from October 31, 2016 and thereafter by the last day of each succeeding month until the entire debt of $10 135 together with costs is paid in full," ruled the judge.

In February 2014, in a judgment passed in default by the late Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Andrew Mutema, Rev Musindo was ordered to pay Strides Models $10 135.