THE case involving Bulawayo deputy mayor Gift Banda, who was charged with contempt of court after he defaulted paying maintenance towards his child, took a new twist yesterday, as a warrant of arrest was issued for the mother of the child. SILAS NKALA STAFF REPORTER
Banda allegedly defaulted paying maintenance for his child he sired with Kholiwe Sitshoni, with the debt accumulating to $2 400, prompting the child’s mother to return to the courts to report the default.
Banda appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Tawanda Muchemwa when the case was expected to be heard, but Sitshoni, who is believed to have gone to South Africa, was in no show at the courts.
Muchemwa ordered that a warrant of arrest be issued against Sitshoni for defaulting court, while he ruled that Banda be placed off remand pending the arrest of the child’s mother, with the case now expected to proceed by way of summons.
At the start of the case two weeks ago, Banda failed to appear in court and a warrant of his arrest was issued. He was later fined $20 for contempt of court.
The State alleges that on January 27 2014, Banda was ordered to pay maintenance of $150 per month for the upkeep of his child.
Banda defaulted paying for the agreed months in 2014. The deputy mayor was due to pay his child’s school fees and medical bills last July and he accumulated arrears of $2 400.
