MDC Renewal Team MP fails to pay maintenance

GWERU – Masvingo Central MP Tongai Matutu’s trial for failing to pay maintenance for his ex-girlfriend and 14-year-old daughter has been deferred to next month.

The  MDC renewal team member appeared here before magistrate Tendai Madanhire, who deferred the case after the complainant failed to show up due to ill-health.

Matutu will be back in court on October 7 for trial continuation.

A married man, he allegedly impregnated his long-time girlfriend Tendai Makura of Mbizo in Kwekwe in 2000. The pair broke up in 2012.

The former deputy minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment has failed to pay his former mistress, who bore him a daughter, whom she says he is now neglecting.

After the two broke up, Makura dragged Matutu before the courts seeking maintenance for the upkeep of their daughter, accusing him of being deadbeat dad.

In June last year, Matutu was arraigned before the Gweru maintenance court which ruled in favour of Makura and ordered Matutu to pay $300 every month for the upkeep of their daughter. The magistrate also ordered him to pay a clothing allowance for his ex-girlfriend.

Matutu allegedly defied the court order and failed to pay the maintenance, backdated to September last year. The amount has since ballooned to about $4 000.

He appeared before the courts facing charges of contempt of court. Daily News