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Former MP jailed over maintenance arrears

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FORMER MDC-T Glen View South MP Paul Madzore was yesterday sentenced to a wholly suspended three-month jail term for failing to pay maintenance for his two children with his former wife.

FORMER MDC-T Glen View South MP Paul Madzore was yesterday sentenced to a wholly suspended three-month jail term for failing to pay maintenance for his two children with his former wife.

BY PAIDAMOYO MUZULU

Harare magistrate Tendai Mahwe convicted Madzore, who has since left the MDC-T for the People’s Democratic Party, on his own plea of guilty to accumulating arrears of $1 040 since December last year.

Mahwe, in passing sentence, said: “By pleading guilty, you have shown contrition and saved the court’s time, but you have to be induced to support your children. You are sentenced to a wholly suspended three months in prison if you pay the arrears by April 30.”

Madzore had in mitigation told the court about his financial position, which had deteriorated since he was recalled from Parliament last year.

“I am no longer employed and this has caused me defaulting. However, I plead with the court that if given time, I can run around and pay the arrears,” he pleaded with the court.

It was the State’s case that on October 30, 2013, Madzore was ordered by the Harare Civil Court to pay $300 monthly as maintenance for the upkeep of his two minor children.

The State said Madzore partially complied with the order and in November 2015 paid only $140 and from December 2015 to March 2016, he had defaulted, thereby accumulating arrears to the tune of $1 040.

The matter was brought to the court at the behest of Philda Kanengoni, Madzore’s ex-wife, who has custody of the children.

Francisca Mukumbiri prosecuted.