MDC Renewal MP defaults on maintenance payments

By Munyaradzi Musiiwa

MASVINGO – Former Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment deputy minister, Tongai Matutu, has been hauled before the courts for defaulting on paying maintenance amounting to $4,000 for the upkeep of his ex-girlfriend and four-year-old daughter.

Matutu, who is MDC Renewal Team Member of Parliament for Masvingo Central, and resides at 4654 Carry Street, Rhodene low density suburb in Masvingo, was arraigned before Gweru magistrate Vimbai Makora, for contravening Section 23 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.

He was remanded out of custody on free bail to September 23 for trial.

For the state, Bernard Nyoni alleged that Matutu impregnated his long time girlfriend, Tendai Makura of Mbizo high density suburb in Kwekwe.

It is alleged that Matutu and Makura had been dating for 17 years until they broke up in 2012 and the two had a daughter.

Nyoni told the court that after the two broke up in 2012, Makura dragged Matutu to court seeking maintenance for the upkeep of their daughter as well as her clothing allowance.

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

Nyoni alleged that Matutu defied the court order and failed to pay the maintenance backdating to September last year. Chronicle