adminLindani Dube Court Correspondent
A SOLDIER yesterday stunned a court when he pledged to pay his maintenance arrears of $1,960 after the bonus payment at the end of the year. Progress Lisuthu, 30, a general duty soldier who resides at Zimbabwe National Army HQ1 Brigade in Bulawayo but is currently deployed in Plumtree, pleaded guilty to defaulting on maintenance payments before Hwange magistrate, Portia Mhlanga.
Asked by the magistrate when he would pay the money, Lisuthu replied: “I’ll probably settle the payment when I get my bonus at the end of the year.”
In disbelief, the magistrate had to ask him if he was serious, to which he replied: “Yes.”
“You’re not remorseful. You’ve not been consistent as you were ordered again on October 23, 2013, to pay maintenance arrears which are now up to $1,960,” said Mhlanga.
She ordered him to settle the outstanding $1,960 by August 22, or face five months imprisonment.
Alfred Mzizi, for the state, said on October 21, 2011, Lisuthu was ordered to pay $90 per month to his girlfriend, Nqobizitha Sibanda, of Hwange, with whom he has a child.
He said in November 2011, Lisuthu defaulted payment and later paid $70 in March 2012.
The court heard that between December 2012 to August 2013, Lisuthu did not pay anything towards his child’s upkeep and accrued arrears of $1,960.
In mitigation, Lisuthu said he married another woman in 2011 and was facing financial problems.
Online Reporter