Pastor fails to pay maintenance

A 30-year- old ZORE International Ministries pastor told a Mutare court that he was recently suspended from doing pastoral work because of a $1 250 maintenance debt wrangle he is having with his ex-wife.

Itai Anderson Gutukunhuwa pleaded guilty to failing to pay maintenance on time as defined in Section 23 of the Maintenance Act Chapter 05:09 when he appeared before Mr Innocent Bepura.

Public prosecutor, Mr Fletcher Karombe told the court that on October 27 last year, the complainant, Brenda Mutepfa ( 30), was granted maintenance from the suspect.

He was ordered to pay $250 every month but he went on to default payment from January to May this year resulting in a debt of $1 250.

When he was asked why he was failing to pay maintenance, he told the court that he was suspended from his job so he could not raise the money to pay.

“I was a pastor for ZORE International Ministries, but I was suspended from carrying out my duties because of this case. I am now struggling to make ends meet,” he said

Mr Bepura sentenced Gutukunhuhwa to eight months imprisonment, four of which were suspended on condition that he pays $700 before being released from the prison cells and the remaining four were suspended on condition he pays the remaining $550 by August 30.