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Elizabeth Tsuro, Midlands Reporter
A 42-YEAR-OLD woman from Gweru was lucky to escape jail after she was arrested for failing to pay $750 maintenance to her husband for the upkeep of the couple’s four minor children.

Gweru Magistrate Tayengwa Chibanda gave Sikoliwe Moyo a wholly suspended five-month prison sentence on Monday.

She had pleaded for leniency and told the court she had no means to get the money as she was not employed.

“When the order was granted I was absent and after I was informed that I’ve to pay that kind of money I tried to talk to my husband for the amount to be reduced but he refused.

“My younger sister looks after me. I cannot pay because I don’t have any money and any means to get money,” she said nearly in tears.

In passing sentence, Magistrate Chibanda said Moyo was supposed to pay the money for the upkeep of her children

“The court has considered that you have no means to get any money but you have to pay for the upkeep of your children,” he said.

“You have been sentenced to five months wholly suspended on condition you pay $750 through the clerk of court Gweru on or before May 30.”

Prosecuting, Lloyd Mavhisa told the court that on September 22 and at Gweru Maintenance Court, Moyo was ordered by the court to pay $150 per month as maintenance to her former husband, Pipo Banda, in respect of their four minor children.

The prosecutor told the court that she did not deposit anything from October last year to February 2016, resulting in the bill rising to $750.

The court heard that Banda reported the matter to the police leading to Moyo’s arrest.