Ex-wife Cynthia Mugwira takes Temba Mliswa to cour...

Ex-wife Cynthia Mugwira takes Temba Mliswa to court for defaulting on child support

Zim Now Writer

Norton legislator Temba Mliswa's lawyer ex-wife, Cynthia Mugwira, has taken the MP to court, accusing him of allegedly defaulting on maintenance payments.

Mliswa pleaded not guilty when he appeared before magistrate Ruth Moyo.

Mugwira told the court that Mliswa had violated the maintenance order, issued on June 30, 2021, leading her to file a lawsuit against the father of her two young children.

The State asserts that Mliswa received an invoice for $1 216 000 to cover his minor children’s school expenses in December last year.

On January 19 this year, he paid $2 940 000, leaving the first invoice’s balance due.

In her examination in chief, Mugwira told the court that the money should be paid into the school’s account directly, upon request of the invoices, which are issued in accordance with the currency one intends to use.

She, however, told the court that the issue of ratings don’t apply because the invoices were independent of each other.

Mliswa denied ever failing to pay maintenance or school fees, arguing that he didn’t owe the school.

The legislator maintained athat if there were any arrears, or default in maintenance, the default was not wilfull.

Mliswa claimed that he was given the school’s United States dollar invoice, which he settled fully, at the prevailing official rate on the date he paid.

Any variances, which Mugwira was claiming, were being computed on the black market, which is unlawful.

Mliswa said he had even borrowed in order to comply with the maintenance order, pending the filing and determination of an application for variation.

Mandirasa Chigumira prosecuted.