Online Reporter
By Danisa Masuku | B-Metro Court Buzz
BUSINESSMAN and former Bulawayo deputy mayor Gift Banda has been dealt a courtroom blow after he was slapped with a maintenance order and instructed to pay US$250 monthly — plus private school fees — for a child he shares with ex-lover Kholiwe Sitshoni.
The drama played out in court where Sitshoni, armed with receipts and a tearful plea, demanded an upward variation from US$150 to US$500, arguing that the cost of raising a child has skyrocketed — and her baby daddy is living the soft life.
“He’s a flamboyant businessman, drives top-of-the-range cars and lives large. He can afford it!” she told the court.
Sitshoni, currently unemployed, said the child now attends a private school and the financial strain is weighing heavily on her. She also revealed that Banda was already US$750 in arrears, despite a previous court ruling in her favour.
But Banda, once known as the sharp-suited Zifa Vice-President, wasn’t about to fold without a fight.
He argued that his income had taken a severe knock, and business wasn’t booming like before. He claimed financial pressure from two other dependants and told the court that US$150 was a fair offer — adding that he was also willing to cover school fees directly.
The court, however, wasn’t convinced.
After poring over bank statements that confirmed a drop in inflows, the court ruled that while Banda’s financial woes were real, US$150 wasn’t enough for the child’s upkeep. In a balanced judgment, the magistrate upped the maintenance to US$250 per month and ruled that Banda must also foot all school-related costs.
The ruling marks another chapter in Banda’s tangled personal affairs, often overshadowing his political and business moves.
Insiders close to the case say Sitshoni is “relieved but not satisfied,” claiming the child deserves more — while Banda’s camp is considering appealing the decision, insisting the businessman is being targeted because of his “flashy lifestyle.”
It’s no longer just politics heating up Banda’s plate . . . it’s the maintenance docket too!
