SUNGURA King Alick Macheso will have to pay child maintenance to his estranged wife of four years Fortunate aka Tafadzwa Mapako until paternity tests are concluded, a Harare Civil Court magistrate ruled Thursday.
The court ruled that Macheso is liable to pay a sum of $1,030 as monthly upkeep for the children instead of the over $7,000 that his now former wife was demanding.
Macheso’s divorce from Mapako turned into a public row with counter accusations flying between the couple.
The multi-award-winning singer has since declared that he doubted he was the father of the two minor children claiming his wife had apparently told him she was not being satisfied sexually.
The altercation led to the relationship collapsing with revelations that Mapako decided to cut the singer lose.
Magistrate Tafadzwa Muvhami ordered Macheso to pay the money with effect from May 31 2014.
The two children from the marriage are entitled to $750 per month for their upkeep until paternity test prove otherwise, while Mapako will get $280 per month, until she passes on.
Muchami ordered both parties to avail themselves for DNA tests to be held at the National Blood Transfusion Services of Zimbabwe (BTSZ), not later than June 6.
In the maintenance claim filed on April 28 2014, Mapako stated that Macheso had not been supporting her and their two children since December last year.
Through her lawyer, Gift Nyandoro, of Hamukwandi, Nyandoro and Nyambuya legal practitioners, Mapako submitted she and the two minors were entitled to a sum of $7 130 per month.
Macheso, in his response, poured scorn on the claim accusing his former wife of being a “gold digger” adding he would be in a position to pay $150.
Nyandoro, representing Mapako, insisted that the claim was a “drop in the ocean” when compared to what the sungura ace earns monthly.
“Macheso can easily rack in $90 000 within a month, so what is $7,130 to him. His shows are different from any other upcoming artistes’ shows as he charges a substantial amount of money as entrance fees.
“The honourable court must also note that Macheso gets money from royalties as he has been in the music industry for a long time,” Nyandoro averred.
However, Macheso’s legal counsel, Norman Mugiya, argued that the musician must be treated in his own personal capacity and not as a band adding that he earns between $800 and $1000 monthly from his shows when and if they are held.Advertisement

Macheso’s first wife Nyadzisai has filed an affidavit in support of her husband stating that Mapako’s demands were not corresponding to her family lifestyle and that they must be thrown out by the court.
The case attracted hordes of police wielding baton sticks and ordinary citizens who wanted to catch a free and rare glimpse of Macheso and Mapako.
Mapako was jeered by a group of people who turned to name calling as Macheso’s former wife walked into court.