adminSukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu
TWO Plumtree men have each been sentenced to perform 140 hours of community service for defaulting on paying maintenance for their minor children.
Nqobizitha Ncube (40) and Reginald Zhangazha (33) were convicted on their own plea of guilty to failing to pay maintenance when they appeared separately before Plumtree magistrate Mr Taurai Manwere.
Ncube had payment arrears of $720 while Zhangazha had arrears of $1, 320.
Prosecuting, Ms Charlote Katerere said Ncube was ordered to pay $60 maintenance for his minor daughter from October 31, 2011.
She said Ncube however stopped depositing the money on March 31 last year.
a�?On 24 October 2011 Ncube was ordered by the court to deposit $60 for the maintenance of his daughter starting from 31 October 2011. From 31 March 2016 to 28 February 2017 Ncube defaulted payment which resulted in arrears of $720,a�? he said.
Ncube was sentenced to seven months imprisonment and three months were suspended on condition that he pays his arrears of $720 by March 31.
The remaining four months were further suspended on condition that he performs 104 hours of community serviceA� at the Plumtree Magistratea��s Court.
In his mitigation Ncube told the court that he had defaulted in paying maintenance as he was unemployed and he had five other children.
Ms Katerere said Zhangazha was ordered to pay $70 for the upkeep of his juvenile son as from February 28, 2014.
a�?Zhangazha was on 26 February 2014 ordered to pay $70 every month from 28 February 2014 for the upkeep of his minor son.
a�?From 28 February last year he defaulted and accumulated arrears of $1, 320 leading to his arrest,a�? said Ms Katerere.
He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment and five months were suspended on condition that he clears his arrears of $1, 320 by March 31.
In passing his sentence Plumtree magistrate Mr Taurai Manwere lashed out at the two men for neglecting their responsibility of maintaining their children.
Online Reporter