A 45-YEAR-OLD Harare woman was last week slapped with a six-month wholly suspended jail term for defaulting in paying maintenance in the sum of $1 490 to her husband for the upkeep of the couple’s five children.
BY PAIDAMOYO MUZULU
The woman, Dorothy Manjoro, pleaded guilty to the charge of failing to support her former husband Philimon Manjoro together with their children when she appeared before provincial magistrate Tendai Mahwe.
Manjoro had been ordered by the court to pay $250 monthly maintenance for the upkeep of their five children in October last year, but since then, she never paid anything prompting her former husband to apply for her warrant of arrest.
In passing sentence, Mahwe said it was the court’s view that women should not ordinarily be given custodial sentences except in exceptional cases.
“It is noteworthy that you pleaded guilty and that female offenders are usually kept out of custody except in exceptional circumstances. I therefore sentence you to six months wholly suspended on condition that you pay $1 490 to Philimon Manjoro the outstanding money before June 30 2015,” Mahwe said.
In mitigation, Manjoro said it was the economic conditions that had forced her to skip the payments.
“I have $200 on me to offset the outstanding amount and will take steps to clear the remainder. I am not employed and survive on vending which does not give me a guaranteed monthly income,” she said.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
However, the State proved that Manjoro was not a first offender, but had also in the past absconded from paying maintenance. Manjoro was further warned against disregarding court orders.
“If you fail to pay the outstanding money the court will be left with no option except to send you to prison for six months,” the magistrate said.
