Chronicle Editor
Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
Maintenance arrears are still haunting former Premier Soccer League chairman Twine Phiri and his ex-wife Keresiya Phiri (42) brought him to court last Thursday on fresh allegations of over $20 000 arrears.
In April this year Phiri appeared in court battling a staggering $67 551 in maintenance arrears for the three children he fathered with Keresiya.
On the fresh case, Phiri appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Gamuchirai Siwadi and was remanded out of custody to January 11, next year.
Prosecutor Mr Oscar Madhume alleged that on February 27, 2014 and at Chitungwiza Civil Court, Phiri was ordered to pay maintenance fees of $2 913 per month for the children with effect from March 31 that year.
It is alleged that the same order compelled him to buy uniforms twice a year for the three children and to cater for medical expenses when the need arises.
The court heard that Phiri only managed to pay $3 600 from April 2016 to November this year for maintenance, medical expenses and school uniforms.
It is alleged that he was supposed to pay $24 280 for the same period.
The court heard that Phiri’s arrears stood at$20 680 as at November 30.
In a similar matter before the same magistrate, a Harare man, Tendai Zhakata (45), was charged with failing to pay $6 000 maintenance arrears.
The court heard that on March 23, 2015 Zhakata was ordered by the Harare Civil Court to pay $260 per month as maintenance for his two children with Elizabeth Zhakata (40) with effect from April that year.
It is alleged Zhakata failed to pay maintenance for the last 20 months accruing to $6 000 arrears.
He is expected in court on January 4.
Online Reporter