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Noleen Makhurane Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO magistrate yesterday ordered Cowdray Park councillor Collet Ndlovu, a super dad of 13 children, to pay $120 child support for his two children born out of wedlock.

Linda Mabvute, Ndlovu’s girlfriend, had claimed $142 child support for their three -year-old daughter and eleven-month-old son.

Court records show Ndlovu of MDC Renewal, was initially supposed to appear in court on July 20 but failed to show up.

Ndlovu pleaded with magistrate Sithembiso Ncube to be lenient with him saying he has a wife and 11 other children that he needs to support.

The super dad offered $40 child support for his two children with his ex-girlfriend.

“I survive on $220 councillor allowance. I’ve to pay fees for my nine children in primary school and boarding fees for two children in high school,” he said.

He told the court that his vendor wife realises about $400 monthly and helps him to pay bills and buy food.

He told the court that he had no fixed property of value as he lives at his parents’ house in Cowdray Park.

Mabvute argued that Ndlovu could afford to pay more in child support for her two children.

She said he was building a shopping complex and has livestock. “He’s paying boarding fees for two children and that amounts to almost $800. He has plenty of cattle and I know he can pay $142 for my children,” she argued.

Ncube reprimanded Ndlovu for being dishonest about his income. She said it was clear that Ndlovu had other sources of income. “Your total expenditure amounts to $1,549 and can’t be met by your $220 allowance, even with the help of your wife,” said the magistrate.