HARARE - Suspended Mashonaland Holdings boss Manfred Mahari — facing charges of $31 000 maintenance arrears — reportedly splashed money on teenage children he sired with other women and bought them Mercedes Benz cars while neglecting his other children, a Harare court heard.
Mahari is answering to charges of defaulting payment of maintenance before Harare magistrate Annia Ndiraya.
He denied the charges and claimed he entered an agreement with his estranged wife Moyra after facing financial problems.
He claims she undertook to take over the children’s welfare, and wants the case resolved in a civil court.
However, Moyra told the court that Mahari was affluent and capable of maintaining their children because he has vast properties and now sits on the Turnall Holdings Board as an executive director.
“He even bought Mercedes Benz cars for his other children aged 16 and another one currently studying at Cape Town University,” Moyra told the court.
“The accused person has houses in Borrowdale, Raylands Pomona and owns a flat.
“He also has a plot in Nyanga, a shoe shop at Travel Plaza called Smitten Feet and a bottle store called Gartwick Liqour Centre. He also has three other wives and nine children.
“We have a child who has scoliosis of the spine and needs treatment and to show that he is capable there is another child from his other families who also has that condition and was sent for treatment in United States of America recently.”
She added that Mahari had told her she would not receive a cent from him as a means of fixing her, the court heard.
According to State papers, on April 12, 2012, Mahari was ordered by the Harare Civil Court to pay maintenance for his three children.
He agreed with Moyra in their divorce settlement that he would settle all school and tuition fees.
The court heard that they also agreed that Mahari would provide uniforms, footwear, sportswear, text books and pay for the children to attend extra lessons.
According to the settlement, Mahari was to meet the children’s daily needs and bear 100 percent of their medical aid.
However, it is alleged Mahari failed to comply and is now in arrears of $31 577.
[GoogleAd]