Nyadzisai Macheso blasts Tafadzwa

By Charles Laiton

POPULAR sungura icon Alick Macheso’s wife, Nyadzisai Macheso has blasted the musician’s estranged wife, Tafadzwa Mapako for claiming over US$7 000 maintenance from her husband, a figure she says is out of this world. Nyadzisai said Tafadzwa was living in dreamland, the only place where such figures could be found.

In her affidavit in support of Macheso’s response to Tafadzwa’s maintenance claim filed on Friday, Nyadzisai said: “I agree in toto with what the respondent [Macheso] stated in his affidavit as it reflects the truth of the real position on the ground as opposed to the fallacy which the applicant [Tafadzwa] has sought to portray in her founding affidavit.”

Nyadzisai said they only spent between US$100 and US$150 per month on household needs during the time they were staying together with Tafadzwa.

“I used to stay with the applicant during the course of the now terminated union and we lived an ordinary life in which we could buy groceries for about $100 to $150 per month as a combined family,” said Nyadzisai.

She added: “It is unfortunate that the applicant is creating a fictitious and imaginary standard of life which I think she has read from leisure and tourism books and not what she ever lived. The applicant lived a life which I know personally and there is nothing she can say which I do not know.”

Nyadzisai accompanied the marriage team that went to pay lobola for Tafadzwa when she was traditionally married to the sungura king.

Nyadzisai further said she was shocked by Tafadzwa’s claims but said she understood her motive especially as she had allegedly warned her husband that she was going to “fix him” and ensure that he was grounded and left with nothing.

“She has told the respondent that he had dealt with a wrong person and that he would regret the day he met her,” Nyadzisai said.

“The applicant also told me that the respondent [Macheso] was going to work for her following that fallout and that she did not need to look for employment anymore,” said Nyadzisai.

“I am surprised that the applicant appears to act as if I do not exist. I think she has forgotten that I also need to be cared for, especially as I am the only legitimate wife to the respondent after the collapse of the union with the applicant.”

On Tuesday last week, Tafadzwa filed a US$7 130 maintenance claim at the civil courts for herself and the two minor children who are at the centre of a paternity dispute.

She approached the courts through her lawyer, David Ngwe-rume following an irretrievably broken marriage with the musician which resulted in the parties making counter accusations against each other.

Speaking to The Standard’s sister newspaper, NewsDay last week, Ngwerume dismissed Macheso’s claims that Tafadzwa was playing hide and seek in a bid to avoid undergoing DNA tests to establish the paternity of her two minor children.

Ngwerume said Tafadzwa was still waiting for Macheso to advise her on the date and the neutral venue where the tests would be conducted as opposed to “some doctor’s surgery” in town.

But Nyadzisai claims Tafadzwa was indeed playing truant in the matter and urged the court to dismiss her maintenance claim.
She further urged the court to order a provisional maintenance proposal suggested by her husband of US$1 250 per month pending paternity tests.

“In the circumstances, I pray for an order in the sum stated by the respondent pending paternity tests which the applicant has shockingly been avoiding on more than three occasions since I was always accompanying my husband,” Nyadzisai said.

In his response to Tafadzwa’s claim, Macheso, who is represented by a Harare lawyer Norman Mugiya, said he was not refusing to pay maintenance but wanted the issue of the paternity tests to be resolved first.

“I seriously doubt if the children are mine, hence the desire to know the truth. I will move that the court orders that the parties facilitate that the paternity tests be done and grant an interim order of maintenance pending paternity tests. I will definitely claim back the money I would have paid should it turn out that the children are not mine,” Macheso said.

Macheso said he had no idea where Tafadzwa was getting the figure of US$7 130 from.

“I have no doubt in my mind that the applicant is living in her own dreamland. I know she is after destroying me but her imaginary claim of maintenance has exposed her evil intentions. She knows very well that I have no means to get that amount but she wants me to die in jail as I cannot get the money regardless of how hard I work or get assistance.

She knows I will be arrested for defaulting on paying maintenance,” he said in his affidavit.

Macheso further said his musical shows had hit hard times. At times, he said, he grosses less than US$10 000 per month which would also cover expenses such as paying security costs, venues, agents or promoters and salaries for his 20-member band team.
Among other expenses, Tafadzwa is claiming what she termed extra-curricular activities in the sum of US$400.

But Macheso replied: “I am sure that the applicant is not serious or she is not being given wise counsel and is clearly fooled. What is this animal called ‘extra-curricular activities’ valued at US$400 per month? This is clearly a joke and must be dismissed with the contempt it deserves.”

“What is interesting to note is that the applicant [Tafadzwa] did not justify any of the stated and purpose needs. She simply out of guess work, excitement, misguided advice and imagination, placated the figures on papers in the hope of hitting a jackpot in her new found lotto.”

The maintenance matter is set to be heard on Tuesday this week. Zimbabwe Standard