Defrocked priest to pay US$80 upkeep for child

Prosper Dembedza Court Reporter
A Guruve-based former Roman Catholic priest who sired a child while he was still serving was yesterday ordered to pay US$80 per month towards the upkeep of the minor. Roman Catholic priests pledge to celibacy, but Mathew Jonga (pictured right) broke the cardinal rule and sired a child with Emmah Mutaka. Harare Civil Court magistrate Mr Trevor Nyatsanza last week ordered Mutaka to bring proof that Jonga was still a Roman Catholic priest and receipts to show that she was responsible for paying school fees for the child.

Mutaka told the court that she went to the Roman Catholic offices in Chinhoyi where she was told that Jonga had resigned from the church.

Mutaka claimed that she was single-handedly taking care of the child since Jonga had been refusing to contribute anything.

“I have my receipts which show that I am the one who has been paying school fees for the child single-handedly,” said Mutaka.

She told the court that she was supposed to be maintained by Jonga since they were still legally married.

Jonga said he didn’t have to pay anything as the child was staying with his sister in Centenary.

Mutaka was claiming US$250 for the upkeep of their child and accused Jonga of neglecting his own blood.

Mr Nyatsanza, however, ordered Jonga to pay $80 per month for the upkeep of the child.