HARARE - Lupane State University registrar Jairos Makunde was yesterday sentenced to six months in prison which was wholly suspended on condition he paid $900 forthwith and the remainder by June 30 this year.

Magistrate Don Ndirowei ordered Makunde to pay his maintenance debt or risk imprisonment.

In mitigation Makunde had suggested that he pay $900 up-front and settle the rest over a period of six months but Ndirowei refused.

Ndirowei told Makunde that despite the fact that Makunde is a first offender “he does not need the court to compel him to pay maintenance for his own children”.

Makunde who is in default of $12 510 which includes school fees for his two children was being charged with failure to pay maintenance.

The court heard that on March 8, 2011, Makunde was ordered by the maintenance court to pay $450 every month as maintenance for his wife Rachel Makunde and their children.

However, prosecutor Tungamirai Chakurira alleges that he failed to pay maintenance from July 2011 to date amounting to $9 900.

Allegations are that he also failed to pay school fees for the first and second term of 2012 amounting to a further $2 610.

In his defence Makunde said his wife receives money every month from his Chitungwiza house and that she also stays at his Strathaven home with the children.

“I am not agreeing with the order as I had thought that the rentals she gets from the house in Chitungwiza were part of the monthly allowance. I went to South Africa to look for work which is why I could not pay. Since I now have formal employment I have listed our youngest to attend Cambridge pre-school in Avondale which I will pay for,” Makunde said.

Makunde told the court that he has since been paying school fees for his daughter who is studying at the Midlands State University and their son who is at Kutama College.

His wife Rachel, however, said Makunde has not paid the school fees and could show receipts as evidence of his default.