By Crime and Courts Reporter-Former Deputy Information Minister and Zanu PF legislator for Bikita West, Energy Mutodi, has landed in hot water after being dragged to the Masvingo Magistrates Court for allegedly defaulting on child maintenance payments.
Mutodi’s ex-wife, Polite Dhiyo, filed a lawsuit seeking $1,500 per month for the upkeep of their six-month-old child, claiming that despite Mutodi’s lucrative income, he has not contributed a cent since their separation.
Dhiyo alleges that Mutodi, who earns an estimated $15,000 monthly from his businesses, legal practice, and parliamentary salary, abandoned his financial responsibilities after their customary marriage ended earlier this year.
“I was married in 2023 to the respondent under customary law. The respondent paid part of the lobola to my parents. However, we later separated. During the customary law union, we had one minor child, who is now six months old. At the time of our separation, the respondent undertook to provide financial support for the child. However, since the separation, the respondent has not paid a single cent,” Dhiyo’s court papers read.
Dhiyo claims she has been solely responsible for providing the child with shelter, food, clothing, and medical care.
Mutodi, rose to political prominence under the wing of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Once considered one of Mnangagwa’s most loyal allies, Mutodi’s tenure as Deputy Minister of Information was marred by controversy, including public spats with other senior Zanu PF officials and allegations of corruption.
Despite his loyalty to Mnangagwa during the 2017 coup that ousted Robert Mugabe, Mutodi’s erratic behavior and frequent outbursts on social media reportedly strained his relationship with the President.
Analysts suggest that Mutodi’s dismissal from the deputy ministerial position in 2020 signaled Mnangagwa’s frustration with his unpredictable ally.
Even after his removal from the Cabinet, Mutodi retained influence within Zanu PF structures, leveraging his legal expertise and business connections.
However, this latest scandal could tarnish his reputation further and cast a shadow on his future political ambitions.