Harare magistrate Annie Ndiraya on Thursday acquitted former energy minister Samuel Undenge, 62, on charges of failing to pay maintenance for his son. Undenge had been taken to court by his former wife Angeline who alleged that he had maintenance arrears of R226 805. However, the court ruled that the child in question was now an adult as he had turned 18. In her ruling Magistrate Ndiraya said,
The application to extend maintenance order period after the child had turned 18 was dismissed by on March 26, 2014. It is also this court’s view that there is no legal order in existence to still compel the accused to pay the maintenance.
It is not in the interest of justice for the accused to continue paying the maintenance when there is no legal order compelling him to do so. The order automatically lapses upon the child reached over 18.
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