adminLeonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
FORMER Victoria Falls Vehicle Inspection Department boss, Phinias Mawanza, who resigned from work in May this year to concentrate on being an inyanga, has been arrested for failing to pay maintenance.
The 30-year-old father of seven with three different women, originally from Bikita, only paid $30 between June and November this year, resulting in arrears accumulating to $890. He has up to the end of the month to clear the arrears or find himself starting the year behind bars.
Mawanza had been ordered by the court to pay $175 per month to ex-wife Gladys Mawanza, 46, for the upkeep of their three children. Gladys last week told the court she had sought their intervention to compel her former hubby to pay for the upkeep of their children as he showed no intention of doing so.
Mawanza, who spent the night in police cells last week Thursday after being picked up for the crime, has his ex-wife and minor children to thank as Victoria Falls magistrate Sharon Rosemani said she could not send him to jail for their sake.
Gladys pleaded on his behalf saying she did not want him imprisoned as she wanted him to take care of their children.
“I don’t want him jailed. All I want is for him to give me the money so I can take care of the children. Our son couldn’t get his certificate from school because he didn’t pay fees,” Gladys said.
The magistrate told Mawanza: “In coming up with an appropriate sentence, I considered that you’re a first-time offender who has a family to look after.
“Punishing you with imprisonment will not affect you only, but the children as well. For that, I won’t send you to jail and also, the complainant pleaded on your behalf saying she didn’t want you sent to jail as she’s concerned about money for the children.”
However, in aggravation, the magistrate said Mawanza should not have waited for the court to force him to pay for the upkeep of his children.
“You’re supposed to be the one pushing for a better life for your children and not the court. In as much as you aren’t working, you were supposed to pay something from the little you were getting from your projects,” she said.
Mawanza had told the court that since he left his job, he was surviving on some minor projects which were giving him $100 per month.
The magistrate fined him $60 or alternatively six weeks in jail if he fails to pay for the upkeep of his children.
In addition, the magistrate sentenced him to a suspended three months on condition of good behaviour within three years.
Prosecuting, Takunda Ndovorwi said Mawanza was in May this year, ordered to pay $175 per month at the Maintenance Court and school fees for the children.
He failed to pay and gave his ex-wife $30 after he resigned from work in May to attend to some cultural duties, said the prosecutor.
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Bongani Ndlovu