Magistrate Ms Olivia Mariga was told that the deputy ministers daughter had been sent away from school and the mother fears that the girls brother might soon follow suit. Deputy Minister Undenge was being sued for US$480 in maintenance by his former wife, Angeline Undenge. He offered to pay US$150, but was ordered to pay US$380. The deputy minister said he could not afford his ex-wifes demands because he was already paying US$150 for two other children from another woman.
In that case, Deputy Minister Undenge had offered to pay another ex-wife, Rosemary Nyamande, US$60 but was ordered to pay US$150. At the Civil Courts yesterday, his ex-wife alleged that the deputy minister had been failing to pay for the upkeep of their two children.
She said he had last contributed any money in June 2006, when the Zimbabwe dollar was still legal tender. “He last bought uniforms in 2005 and our daughter has been sent back home from school because of unpaid school fees. “I am expecting that our son might be sent back home as well,” she said. The court heard that Angeline had tried to sue Undenge, but no police officer was willing to serve papers on him because of his status.
Deputy Minister Undenge, who was represented by Muzangaza, Mandaza and Tomana law firm, said he could pay US$150 per month as he is already paying for the upkeep of two other children. However, the ex-wife countered that her former husband could pay US$480 because he was running a profitable farm in Chimanimani. After hearing both sides, Ms Mariga ordered the deputy minister to contribute US$300 monthly as well as pay school fees and cover the childrens medical costs.
Post published in: News