The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Correspondent
A LOCAL gold dealer who claims to have fallen on hard times has been ordered to fork out US$250 for the upkeep of his two minor children every month.
Garikayi Sigauke pleaded with the court to allow him pay US$30 as he claimed that his finances have taken a knock.
The gold dealer is famous for his flamboyant lifestyle.
When the matter was heard in court last week, Sigauke’s children were not attending school as they had school fees arrears at their respective schools.
Sigauke’s ex-wife, Portia Murushomana, was applying for an upwards review of her daughters’ maintenance from ZWL300 to US$400.
Mr Xavier Chipato presided over the matter.
Murushomana said Sigauke is still living large as evidenced by how he flaunts his wealth on social media.
“He flaunts his wealth on Facebook. He poses for pictures with his luxury vehicles, including a Mercedes Benz E320, Toyota Hilux, Raider and a Landcruiser, among many others. I know that all these cars belong to him as I was legally married to him,” said Murushomana.
She said the two children deserve to live a comfortable life since they were used to it when their parents were still together.
“It disturbs and hurts me that my children are not in school. As a teacher, my heart bleeds when I teach other people’s children while mine are home because of their father’s irresponsible behaviour,” said Murushomana.
She said she is using her salary to pay rentals for her Chikanga lodgings.
“I cannot stay in one room when he is staying in a mansion in Morningside, a house that we acquired together. He is refusing to sell the house as ordered by the High Court when we divorced,” she said.
Murushomana said Sigauke owns a trucking company, Sigma Trans, while he is also a gold buyer.
“He will obviously deny being a gold dealer as he is not licensed to do so but that is mostly how he acquired all the wealth he has,” she said.
However, Sigauke denied ever dealing in gold.
He also told the court that he is not formerly employed and claimed that he can not afford to pay more money as he has been singing the blues for the past five years.
He denied owning any luxurious vehicles.
“Things have not been rosy for me since 2017 when I came to this court to apply for a downwards review of the US$500 maintenance that I had been paying. I have been experiencing financial challenges and I am even failing to pay school fees for my children.
“I owe their schools all of last year’s school fees and I have also not been able to replace Murushomana’s car as ordered by the court. I think this is clear evidence that I am struggling financially,” said Sigauke.
However, Mr Chipato ordered Sigauke to clear his children’s school fees arrears by end of February.
He also ordered him to pay US$250 maintenance with effect from March 1.
