Deputy Finance minister Terence Mukupe yesterday suffered the embarrassment of being ordered to settle fees arrears for his children by High Court after he had failed to pay their school for nine months.

Mukupe owes Harare International school nearly $30 000.Part of the court papers filed by the school which cannot be named to protect the two minors read:

“Defendant (Mukupe) is the parent and natural guardian of two minor children (names withheld). As per the educational services offered to the defendant’s children, plaintiff (name withheld) charged tuition and levy for the same

The customer ledger for the defendant shows that the defendant owes the plaintiff a total of $29 948 for the services rendered to the defendant’s children. The period for the amount above is August 2017 to April 2018. The above amount is still owing and accruing interest. Despite demand, defendant has failed, neglected, denied and/or delayed to pay the capital debt in question.”

The Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning is also waiting to respond on another case where he has been sued for $28 000 by China Industrial International Group.

The company alleges that Mukupe has become evasive about paying the debt which came after the firm constructed his city offices. Part of the court papers filed by the Chinese firm read:

“The project was successfully completed to the defendant’s (Mukupe) satisfaction and was handed over to him on February 22, 2018, at which point the balance of $28 000 became due. Defendant made numerous undertakings to pay the balance, but he has not honoured his undertaking.”