Zanu PF MP faces $11 600 maintenance claim

News
Zanu PF Gokwe Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena yesterday appeared at the civil magistrates court in Harare to contest an $11 600 monthly maintenance .

Zanu PF Gokwe Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena yesterday appeared at the civil magistrates court in Harare to contest an $11 600 monthly maintenance claim filed by his former lover Wadzanai Mudare for the upkeep of their 10-year-old daughter.

CHARLES LAITON SENIOR COURT REPORTER

Mudare told magistrate Milton Serima that her claim against Wadyajena was justified because the legislator had the financial means to pay.

She said the MP owned eight top-of-the-range vehicles with personalised registration plates, a transport firm and a residential property in Borrowdale Brooke.

She added that the MP’s transport business, which operates as “Mayor Logistics” had a fleet of over a 100 trucks.

“He is the director of Mayor Logistics and I have proof of that and besides he is an MP who owns a BMW M5, BMW X6, a Range Rover, Jeep Cherokee and a Land Cruiser, among other cars,” Mudare said as she handed over a document to the magistrate.

However, Wadyajena, who was represented by lawyer Dzikamai Machingura, offered to pay $200 per month arguing he earned $2 500 a month and that the claim by Mudare was “unfavourable and unsustainable”.

The MP also accused Mudare of having taken the child away from him against his will, an assertion Mudare dismissed as false.

“She took the child on October 6 and it boggles the mind that in a space of five days she filed a maintenance claim.

“Respondent (Wadyajena) tenders to take back the child and if the court finds otherwise, he offers to pay $200 and continues to pay fees in the sum of $2 500,” the MP’s lawyer said.

“He has been living with the child until October 6 this year and the claim that he has not been maintaining the child is misplaced.”

Mudare told the court that she filed the maintenance claim two weeks ago after the MP took back the child from her accusing her of having visited the child’s school against his will.

Mudare also said as a result of her visit to the child’s school, the MP withdrew his signature for her child’s intended school trip although he had already paid $300 for it.

“He is the man of means and can afford to pay. He says he can afford $200, but he forks out $7 500 for his three children who are attending school at Heritage, where does he get the extra $5 000 if he simply earns $2 500?”

Serima would make a ruling on the matter tomorrow.