Warrant of arrest for MDC minister for failure to pay child maintenance
Published: 2013 February 01 19:51:28 (3376 Views)
MDC legislator and Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Deputy Minister Tongai Matutu has apparently been issued with a warrant of arrest for defaulting paying $1 100 maintenance for his one-year-old son who stays in Kwekwe.
Matutu was last year ordered to pay $300 monthly towards the upkeep of the baby he sired with a Kwekwe-based school teacher, Ms Tendai Makura.
He did not comply with the court order for some time resulting in a Gweru magistrate court recently issuing a warrant for his arrest.
The court has already directed police in Gweru to ensure Matutu is brought before the court for prosecution.
“The respondent (Matutu) defaulted in paying maintenance, paying school fees, buying groceries, purchasing uniforms and casual clothes,” reads part of the warrant of arrest. Please investigate as it is a criminal offence in terms of Section 23 of the Maintenance Act Chapter 5:09. Once investigations are completed, open a docket and prosecute the respondent.”
Matutu yesterday told The Herald that he was not aware of the warrant of arrest issued against him although he confirmed being involved in the civil matter.
“Yes, I know about the maintenance case, but I am not aware of the warrant of arrest,” he said. “I am hearing it from you.”
On 4 June last year, Matutu, who is also the MDC-T legislator for Masvingo Urban, was ordered to contribute $300 per month as maintenance for the child at the Gweru magistrates’ court.
He was also ordered to pay $250 every three months for clothing, all with effect from June last year.
According to court documents, Matutu paid a total of $1 200 between 3 August and 26 October as maintenance and did not pay for June and July. He also paid $250 in June and the same amount in September.
“The respondent deliberately fails to effect payment on time. This in turn disadvantages the minor child and puts a burden on the applicant,” reads part of the warrant of arrest.
This is not the first time that Matutu faces arrest for violating the country’s laws and for other issues.
He once faced arrest for refusing to pay $1 road toll fees along the Masvingo-Bulawayo highway in 2010.
Matutu was alleged to have refused to pay the toll fees while on his way to Bulawayo. Police said they wanted to arrest him for assaulting Zimbabwe Revenue Authority officials and subsequently refusing to pay the toll gate fee at Mhandamahwe.
Matutu was in September 2010 convicted of assaulting Chief Serima, also known as Vengesai Rushwaya, at the Matizha Business Centre in Gutu.
Masvingo magistrate Mr Oliver Mudzongachiso fined him $100.
Last year, Matutu made an application to a Gweru magistrate demanding that his case of undermining and insulting President Mugabe in 2005 be referred to the Supreme Court.
The State alleges that on 25 June 2005 Matutu insulted and undermined President Mugabe and incited people to turn against the Government while addressing an MDC rally at Ferry Training Centre in Zaka.
Several MDC-T officials have in the past clashed with law enforcement agencies after taking their activism too far.
- Chronicle
Matutu was last year ordered to pay $300 monthly towards the upkeep of the baby he sired with a Kwekwe-based school teacher, Ms Tendai Makura.
He did not comply with the court order for some time resulting in a Gweru magistrate court recently issuing a warrant for his arrest.
The court has already directed police in Gweru to ensure Matutu is brought before the court for prosecution.
“The respondent (Matutu) defaulted in paying maintenance, paying school fees, buying groceries, purchasing uniforms and casual clothes,” reads part of the warrant of arrest. Please investigate as it is a criminal offence in terms of Section 23 of the Maintenance Act Chapter 5:09. Once investigations are completed, open a docket and prosecute the respondent.”
Matutu yesterday told The Herald that he was not aware of the warrant of arrest issued against him although he confirmed being involved in the civil matter.
“Yes, I know about the maintenance case, but I am not aware of the warrant of arrest,” he said. “I am hearing it from you.”
On 4 June last year, Matutu, who is also the MDC-T legislator for Masvingo Urban, was ordered to contribute $300 per month as maintenance for the child at the Gweru magistrates’ court.
He was also ordered to pay $250 every three months for clothing, all with effect from June last year.
According to court documents, Matutu paid a total of $1 200 between 3 August and 26 October as maintenance and did not pay for June and July. He also paid $250 in June and the same amount in September.
“The respondent deliberately fails to effect payment on time. This in turn disadvantages the minor child and puts a burden on the applicant,” reads part of the warrant of arrest.
This is not the first time that Matutu faces arrest for violating the country’s laws and for other issues.
He once faced arrest for refusing to pay $1 road toll fees along the Masvingo-Bulawayo highway in 2010.
Matutu was alleged to have refused to pay the toll fees while on his way to Bulawayo. Police said they wanted to arrest him for assaulting Zimbabwe Revenue Authority officials and subsequently refusing to pay the toll gate fee at Mhandamahwe.
Matutu was in September 2010 convicted of assaulting Chief Serima, also known as Vengesai Rushwaya, at the Matizha Business Centre in Gutu.
Masvingo magistrate Mr Oliver Mudzongachiso fined him $100.
Last year, Matutu made an application to a Gweru magistrate demanding that his case of undermining and insulting President Mugabe in 2005 be referred to the Supreme Court.
The State alleges that on 25 June 2005 Matutu insulted and undermined President Mugabe and incited people to turn against the Government while addressing an MDC rally at Ferry Training Centre in Zaka.
Several MDC-T officials have in the past clashed with law enforcement agencies after taking their activism too far.
- Chronicle
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