The United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) has launched an investigation into a recent baby-swapping incident at its maternity ward, a senior government official has said.
A woman who had given birth to a baby boy was shocked when a nurse handed her a baby girl.
Health and Child Care Ministry permanent secretary, Aspect Maunganidze (pictured above), told the <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/very-unfortunate-government-speaks-on-ubh-baby-swap/">Chronicle</a> on Monday that the Government is aware of the incident and described it as “very unfortunate.” Said Maunganidze:
<blockquote>
The ministry is aware of the unfortunate incident of ‘baby swapping’ that occurred at United Bulawayo Hospitals and awaits the results of the investigation that we instructed the hospital to undertake.
While we expect the investigation to be concluded expeditiously, we acknowledge the sensitivities around the matter.
Parallel to the investigative process, we have instructed the institution to assist with counselling all affected parties (including the staff), reorient or refresh our staff on the standard operating procedures during and after delivery, and reinforce the importance of good moral and ethical practice.
</blockquote>
The mother of the boy had to resort to DNA testing at a private lab in the city centre and the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) to prove that the baby girl given to her by the nurse was not hers.
The nurse on duty had told her that she had given birth to a girl and, due to her Caesarean section, she might have been under sedation.
Zephania Dlamini, head of the Applied Genetics Testing Centre at NUST, confirmed that DNA tests conducted on the parents and babies unequivocally showed that the two babies had been exchanged. Said Dlamini:
<blockquote>
Before approaching Nust, the complainant had sought testing at the Global DNA lab in the city centre, which confirmed that the baby girl was not hers.
Our results corroborated these findings. Subsequent testing on the couple claiming to be the parents of the boy yielded negative results, while the boy’s DNA matched that of the complainant, and the girl’s DNA matched that of the other woman.
</blockquote>

Pindula News

A hospital in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, is investigating a baby-swapping incident in the maternity ward. A mother was given the wrong baby by a nurse. The government knows about the incident and calls it unfortunate. The mother had to do DNA testing to prove the baby was not hers. The results showed that the babies were swapped. The hospital is counseling everyone involved and will review procedures to prevent this from happening again.

Government "Aware" Of Baby-Swapping Incident At United Bulawayo Hospitals

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) test results have ended Temba Peter Mliswa’s dispute with his ex-girlfriend Susan Vivian Mutami over the paternity of one of her sons after they proved that the former Norton MP is indeed the biological father.
Mliswa posted the results on his X page conducted by identilab which show that he is the biological father of two-year-old Tinotenda Cripper Mliswa.
The parentage testing procedure report, prepared by one Katherine Pippia reads in part:
<blockquote>
<ul>
<li>I report that a parentage testing procedure being DNA typing has been carried out on the bodily samples contained in the sealed containers bearing the names of the following donors:</li>
<li>a) Temba Peter Mliswa – 01/09/1971 – Putative Father</li>
<li>b) Susan Vivian Mutami – 28/11/1988 – Mother</li>
<li>c) Tinotenda Cripper Mliswa – 20/07/2021 – Child…</li>
</ul>
I report that the results of the parentage testing procedure carried out on the bodily samples of the donors specified above show that Temba Peter Mliswa is not excluded from identification as the father of Tinotenda Cripper Mliswa.
I further report that the probability that Temba Peter Mliswa is the genetic father of Tinotenda Cripper Mliswa has been calculated as follows:
Temba Peter Mliswa is 12 billion times more likely to produce a child with the required alleles than an unrelated man drawn randomly from the African population. This equates to a Relative Chance of Paternity of &gt;99.99999999%.
</blockquote>
Mutami has previously taken to social media to lambast Mliswa for allegedly failing to support his child, while the latter had demanded proof that he was the biological father of the child.
Mliswa pledged to fulfil his obligations as the father of the child in question and thanked Mutami for taking care of his son alone. Mliswa wrote on X:
<blockquote>
I have some news for you. After the conducting of DNA tests, it has been confirmed that Tinotenda is my son.
I’m glad the matter has been brought to a decisive conclusion allowing me, as a parent, to fulfill my duties with clarity&amp; assuredness. It’s all I sought for in the matter.
I’m thankful for all that Susan Mutami did as a single parent in the interim. She has been a capable mother, loves her child and has done very well. I will now step forward to take over as a responsible adult and parent.
I hope this brings closure to this, as a public matter, allowing us to proceed with the upbringing of this child in privacy.
It’s only because of previous public entanglements that I have felt the need to bring closure to it, in the same public, by announcing these results.
As parents of the child let us respect the future of the child and strive to have commensurate conduct in this matter.
Icho ndicho, bhuru rapinda mudanga. Tinovatambira Shumba nerudo mumhuri.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

DNA Test Results Confirm Temba Mliswa Is The Father Of Susan Mutami's Son

A prominent Bulawayo pathologist Dr. Roger Kruger Hendrick Chigangacha has accused his ex-girlfriend of faking the paternity of her daughter who is now aged 11 years by claiming that he was the biological father of the girl.
<a href="https://www.bmetro.co.zw/heartless-amakorokoza-actress-makes-city-doctor-maintain-another-mans-child-for-11-years/">B-Metro</a> reported that the doctor is suing his foreign-based ex-girlfriend, Natasha Popova Sibanda, a former actress in the TV drama Amakorokoza for US$163 000 for falsely attributing the paternity of her child to him.
Natasha starred as AK’s wife in the drama.
Through his lawyers Mashayamombe and Company Attorneys, Dr. Chingangacha filed a summons at the High Court in Bulawayo on 20 January 2023 citing Sibanda as the defendant under case number HC51 / 23.
Dr. Chigangacha said in December 2022, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) profiling was conducted on him and his purported daughter and the results disqualified him from being the girl’s biological father.
In papers before the court, Dr. Chigangacha said Sibanda’s actions subjected him to humiliation, stress, and a sense of betrayal. He said:
<blockquote>
On 19 December 2022, and through DNA profiling carried out on me and the minor child, the profile results conclusively excluded me as being the biological father of the child.
It was reasonably foreseeable or ought to have been foreseen by the defendant that her promiscuous behaviour at the time of conception would have resulted in me being falsely imputed fatherhood of the child.
… By reason of the defendant’s conduct, I acted on her misrepresentation and paid for all the educational requirements of the child up to December 31, 2022.
I have also expended some money in respect of travels and costs towards the general welfare and upkeep of the minor child.
</blockquote>
The pathologist wants the court to order Sibanda to pay him US$100 000 for her wrongful and deceitful attribution of the paternity of the child to him.
He also wants the court to direct the former actress to pay special damages of US$63 000 arising from the payment of the child’s education, health, and incident costs including her upkeep and welfare.
Dr. Chigangacha wants the money to be paid with interest at the prescribed rate from the date of issue of summons to the date of payment in full.
The pathologist said he was involved in an extra-marital affair with Sibanda from 2011 until June 2012 during which they engaged in sex.
He said Sibanda conceived and gave birth on May 20, 2012.
Sibanda is yet to respond to the summons.

Prominent Doctor Sues Amakorokoza Actress For $163 000 For Paternity Fraud

Legal experts, scientists, and government officials are meeting in Kadoma for a three-day workshop to discuss the proposed DNA Forensic Evidence Bill.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) forensic evidence is useful in dealing with criminal cases before both criminal and civil courts.
Law Development Commission acting deputy chairperson Rex Shana said the Bill will seek to prescribe offences that require mandatory DNA profiling to be done and the DNA evidence will be used to prove whether a person is guilty or innocent. Said Shana:
<blockquote>
DNA forensic evidence has now been proven to be a powerful investigation tool; either to prove the guilt or innocence of a person.
Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe has come up with a DNA Forensic Evidence Bill, which will be presented to Cabinet, and if approved, to Parliament for crafting.
The Bill will also be useful in identifying victims of disasters.
It will include clauses to do with the collection, extraction, and preservation of laboratory analysis, and profiling of DNA-related issues.
Zimbabwe is now faced with crimes that need DNA evidence, and the country must have such a law.
… The Bill will also outline the manner in which DNA evidence should be tested, and the setting up of a National DNA database which will be housed under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage.
A council whose membership shall consist of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage officials, the Forensic Science Department (ZRP), the Ministry of Justice Legal, and other ancillary officials shall be established.
</blockquote>
University of Zimbabwe faculty of medicine lecturer Ian Machingura Ruredzo said:
<blockquote>
The Bill will ensure the nation standardises how DNA evidence is collected, processed and reported so that it can be used as evidence before the courts for identification purposes. The crafting of this Bill is long overdue.
</blockquote>
A detective inspector with the Criminal Investigators Department, who was a participant in the workshop, said:
<blockquote>
If enacted, the proposed law will make our work easier, and it will enhance the quality of forensic results pertaining to cases before the courts. This kind of legislation is long overdue.
</blockquote>
DNA tests and forensic evidence could be used in resolving murder, culpable homicide, treason, rape, and other offences. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200005295/dna-evidence-bill-on-cards">NewsDay</a>

Govt Planning To Introduce DNA Evidence Bill

The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) has offered free deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) tests for the pregnant nine-year-old Tsholotsho girl and her baby once she delivers.
The director of NUST’ Applied Genetic Testing Centre, Zephania Dlamini said it was part of their mandate to assist communities that were facing such crises. He told <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/dna-to-solve-tsholotsho-rape-case/">The Sunday News</a>:
<blockquote>
As a centre of excellence in DNA testing in Zimbabwe, we do have a responsibility to help the community that we are working in. We would be glad to help law enforcement agents to solve this case.
We will do this DNA testing as soon as the child is born, we will liaise with doctors so that we get the DNA samples from the suspect, the nine-year-old and the offspring that she is going to give birth to.
We will gladly conduct the DNA test as our contribution to society without charging them.
</blockquote>
He said since the matter was before the courts, they were waiting for the court to decide whether a DNA test was required, adding that the results would be given to the court officials. Said Dlamini:
<blockquote>
All life forms have genetic materials in the form of DNA. This DNA is inherited by individuals from their parents and human beings and animals usually have two pairs of chromosomes, half a pair comes from the mother and the other half from the father.
With that basically, there are no two individuals that have the same DNA except identical twins who have exactly the same DNA.
With the Tsholotsho case where we hear a nine-year-old is pregnant and the suspect is the father of this child, it is possible to distinguish the DNA of this man in this child who is supposed to be his grandchild and is now allegedly going to be the father.
You must recognise that he gave her only half and the other half is from the mother. So, there are some markers that are found within the father that will also be found in the nine-year-old.
The child to be born will have DNA markers that will be clear from the mother, we will analyse that DNA and then analyse from the suspected father and it will be possible to tell if he is indeed the perpetrator of the rape.
He can be excluded if we do not find his DNA in the child to be born. The importance of this is that we have to test the mother, new-born and the alleged perpetrator and it must match 100 percent with the suspect. It’s a simple case.
</blockquote>
Dlamini explained that not being the father of the to-be-born child would not necessarily exonerate him from having raped her. He said:
<blockquote>
If a person is charged with rape we do the tests and if they come out negative with no DNA match (with the newly born child), it does not mean they did not rape.
It may mean they did not impregnate the victim, but it does not necessarily provide evidence that they did not rape.
DNA cannot prove in that case, it can only exonerate one from being the father but not the rape case.
That one will remain the victim’s word against the perpetrator.
</blockquote>

NUST Offers Free DNA Tests For Impregnated 9-year-old Tsholotsho Girl

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has confirmed that the DNA tests conducted on the human remains suspected to be those of Livingstone Sunhwa yielded positive results.
In a statement, ZRP said the DNA results were obtained and handed over to Livingstone’s family on Wednesday, 21 September. Said ZRP:
<blockquote>
The ZRP confirms that Livingstone Sunhwa’s DNA results were obtained and handed over to his family on 21/09/22. The results were positive.
</blockquote>
Livingstone was a Form Four pupil at St Mathias Tsonzo High School in Watsomba when he controversially disappeared from the school during the first week of December 2021.
According to his sister, Pride, <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/livingstone-sunhwas-sister-reveals-his-last-moments/">teachers at St Mathias Tsonzo High School assaulted Livingstone and banged his head into the wall until he could no longer speak.</a>
She said he was being punished for an alleged offence of stealing sweets and snacks from the school tuckshop.
Pride said Livingstone was assaulted in full view of the students just after break time. 
He was initially taken to Mutasa police station, as he was 19 years old before he was released into the hands of the school head Maxwell Sambona to allow him to write a ZIMSEC examination.
Sambona was later suspended, pending investigations. He was reportedly the last person seen with Livingstone on 5 December 2021 before the boy disappeared.
Selina Tadya, who is the mother of Livingstone and Pride, lost her husband almost a decade ago and was looking up to Livingstone to be the father figure for the family in future.
Livingstone’s father also died under unclear circumstances, while working in a mine in Mozambique.

Police Confirm Missing St Mathias Tsonzo High School's  DNA Results

DNA tests conducted on human remains found about a kilometre away from St Mathias Tsonzo High School in Watsomba have established that the remains belong to Livingstone Sunhwa, a pupil who disappeared from the school in December 2021.
<a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/dna-results-confirm-identity-of-missing-former-st-mathias-tsonzo-high-school-student/">NewZimbabwe.com</a> reported Livingstone’s mother, Selina Tadya, confirming the development and saying the family was preparing for burial. She said:
<blockquote>
We received the results yesterday and they are confirming that the remains are of Livingstone and we are now arranging for his burial.
</blockquote>
<h2>What happened to Livingstone?</h2>
According to his sister, Pride, <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/livingstone-sunhwas-sister-reveals-his-last-moments/">teachers at St Mathias Tsonzo High School assaulted Livingstone and banged his head into the wall until he could no longer speak.</a>
She said he was being punished for an alleged offence of stealing sweets and snacks from the school tuckshop.
Pride said Livingstone was assaulted in full view of the students just after break time. She said:
<blockquote>
I saw them walking with Livingstone towards the Administration block. They started beating him there asking him how he gained entrance into the tuckshop. They were smashing his head into the wall.
There was a teacher on duty whom I asked why they were beating my brother and he said it was because he had stolen.
I asked if they had called my mother and he said they had not. When they were done beating him, he could no longer speak.
All this happened in full view of the students because we were just returning from break time.
… I last saw him at the admin block standing with the head, but I could not talk to him.
</blockquote>
He was initially taken to Mutasa police station, as he was 19 years old, before he was released into the hands of the school head Maxwell Sambona to allow him to write a ZIMSEC examination.
Sambona was later suspended, pending investigations. He was reportedly the last person seen with Livingstone on 5 December 2021 before the boy disappeared.
Tadya lost her husband almost a decade ago and was looking up to Livingstone to be the father figure for the family in future.
Livingstone’s father also died under unclear circumstances, while working in a mine in Mozambique.

DNA Results Confirm Identity Of Missing Former St Mathias Tsonzo High School Student

The family of the missing St Matthias Tsonzo High School Form Four pupil <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Livingstone_Sunhwa">Livingstone Sunhwa</a> will have to wait a bit longer to find closure after the eagerly awaited Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) tests on his presumed remains came back inconclusive.
DNA testing is said to be inconclusive when it fails to produce information that allows an individual to be either included or excluded as the source of the biological evidence.
As a result, additional tests are now set to be conducted on teeth that were found in a forest to establish whether the remains are Livingstone’s or not.
Blood samples were collected from Livingstone’s mother, Selina Tadya and sister Pride Sunhwa, together with part of the skeletal remains, for DNA testing.
According to The Manica Post, a meeting involving Tadya, investigators and the DNA testing service providers was held in Mutare last week on Friday, with the inconclusive results being presented there.
Tadya confirmed the meeting to the publication saying that if further tests are inconclusive, the family will not give up its quest for closure. Said Tadya:
<blockquote>
We are at a dead end, nothing is moving for seven weeks since the discovery of the remains. No concrete answer could be reached with the collected samples.
They told us that the samples did not yield enough DNA, hence there was no conclusive answer.
It will drag on because they have collected additional samples, the teeth, which they say can also be a reliable source of DNA in post-mortem testing.
They explained the challenges they are facing, but due to the gravity of this case, they said they cannot declare inconclusive results, hence the need for another round of trials with additional samples.
This means waiting for another 21 days. If they fail to come up with conclusive results within 21 days, they will then recommend that the samples be sent for further testing either in South Africa or Botswana where there is more advanced technology.
Their main argument is that the remains were exposed to the rain and the sun for a very long time such that DNA was eroded.
However, from my side they did not collect additional samples as the ones initially collected are still valid.
</blockquote>
Tadya, a widow who was working in South Africa before she rushed home following his son’s disappearance, said her life is in limbo. She said:
<blockquote>
It is painful and it’s straining me, my life is on hold. I can’t do anything. I cannot go back to work in South Africa. I am just seated at home with no money, yet everything is demanding money.
Soon schools will be open, I need to raise school fees for Livingstone’s sister. Where will I get the school fees when I am not working as I wait for the DNA test results? We desperately need conclusive results to bring closure to this case.
It hurts us as a family because we are still mourning and we do not know when the mourning will end. We are not at peace.
We can only be at peace after ascertaining whether those are his remains or not and accord Livingstone a befitting burial. What we are going through is awful and devastating.
</blockquote>
Livingstone (19) disappeared from St Matthias Tsonzo High School in Mutasa on 6 December and is yet to be accounted for.
Prior to his disappearance, had been arrested on theft charges but was allegedly released as he was due to sit for his English final exam paper.
He never showed up for the examination and has been missing ever since then.
More: <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/livingstone-saga-dna-tests-inconclusive/">The Manica Post</a>

DNA Tests On Livingstone Sunhwa's Presumed Remains Inconclusive

Socialite Olinda Chapel says she has paid ZWL$270 000 for DNA tests to be conducted on human remains thought to belong to St Mathias Tzonso High School learner, Livingstone Sunhwa, who has been missing since December 2021.
The Sunhwa family had been asked to pay for the tests which will determine if the remains are their son’s.
Chapel sent US$350 to Livingstone’s mother Selina Tadya and posted the confirmation on her Facebook page. She said:
Please let them know I have sent money for the DNA tests.
<blockquote>
Please can they get in touch with me for the reference number. Have a great weekend everyone.
</blockquote>
Authorities at the Anglican Church-run school say Livingstone was arrested by police for breaking into the institution’s tuckshop and stealing snacks.
The teenager was reportedly released into the hands of the school’s suspended headmaster Maxwell Sambona on 5 December to allow him to sit for a ZIMSEC examination the following day.
On 6 December, Livingstone did not turn up for the exam and he has not been seen since.
On Friday last week remains of a body including items of clothing were found strewn in a bushy area, about a kilometre from the school.
School shoes found at the scene are thought to have belonged to Livingstone.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/olinda-pays-dna-bill-for-late-student-livingstones-parents/">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

Olinda Chapel Pays DNA Test Bill For Livingstone's Presumed Remains

A traditional healer based in Nyanga, Manicaland Province, is allegedly conducting paternity “DNA tests” which have resulted in some men denying paternity for their children.
A woman from the area, Mellisa Phiri, had to approach Acting Chief Saunyama’s court in a bid to force her married lover, Lovemore Mandipaza, to contribute towards the upkeep of their child.
Mandipaza allegedly sired a baby with Phiri but later claimed he was not the child’s biological father after visiting the traditional leader who reportedly conducted a spiritual “DNA” test.
Phiri dragged Mandipaza to Acting Chief Saunyama’s court last Friday to force him to provide finances for the upkeep of their eight-month-old baby. Said Phiri:
<blockquote>
His wife was always on my case doubting the paternity of the child. Deep down in his heart, Lovemore knows that the baby is his.
He even named the child after himself as he is his only son. He has four daughters with his wife.
She managed to convince him to seek the services of the traditional healer who told him that his ancestors were not happy that he was deserting his family and taking care of another man’s child.
He supported me during my pregnancy and the first few months of the child’s birth.
However, after the visit to the traditional healer, he disowned the child and has stopped discussing marriage. He had promised to marry me.
</blockquote>
Phiri’s mother, Kerina Samupanga, said her daughter lived with Mandipaza for over a year and they had a blissful life before he dumped her at her house on 23 December last year. She said:
<blockquote>
I asked whether they had gone for DNA tests and he said his actions were being motivated by what the traditional healer had told him.
He reiterated claims that his ancestors were not happy with him for taking care of another man’s child.
</blockquote>
Acting Chief Saunyama referred the case to the Nyanga Civil Court.
He also ordered Mandipaza to give four cattle and two goats to Phiri’s parents as a token of appreciation (chiredzwa) for the eight-month-old baby. Said the chief:
<blockquote>
This is a maintenance case and the civil court should deal with it. He should help look after his child and the only DNA test results accepted by the courts are scientifically proven ones, not prophetic ones or those from traditional healers.
Until the scientific DNA tests are done, Mr Mandipaza should take care of his child.
Since there are no scientific proven DNA results available, we are assuming that this child is his.
After all, he had promised to pay your lobola, so it should not be a problem with him.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/nanga-conducts-spiritual-dna-tests/">The Manica Post</a></h4>

Traditional Healer Conducts "Spiritual" Paternity Tests

Veteran Sungura musician Hosiah Chipanga says he is ready to go for a paternity test with upcoming Zimdancehall artiste Lancelot Chibwana, who alleges Chipanga is his biological father.
Chibwana has over the years been claiming that Chipanga is his biological father and accuses him of refusing to go for a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) test to bring closure to the matter.
Chibwana was born in Murehwa in 1988 and was raised by his maternal relatives after her mother, Memory Chibwana, died in 1994.
He said that before her death, her mother had introduced him to Chipanga as his biological son.
In 2005, Chibwana briefly stayed with Chipanga at his home in Dangamvura, Mutare before the pair moved to Harare.
<ul>
<li class="entry-title"><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/12/24/chipangas-alleged-son-demands-dna-tests/">Chipanga’s Alleged Son Demands DNA Tests</a></li>
</ul>
But speaking in an interview with The Weekender, Chipanga accused Chibwana of being an attention seeker after the paternity issue made rounds on social media, especially on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Said Chipanga:
<blockquote>
You can call Tinashe Mugabe anytime. We can go for a DNA test anytime. I am ready. Why should I be afraid?
He is trending on social media by peddling lies and falsehoods. He is not my son, and I will stick to it. He is getting loud and has been consistently lying.
He is also causing a lot of discomfort in my family and among my fans, friends and relatives.
This is despite the fact that I have always been on record saying that he is not my child.
I would have respected him more if he had used other channels like engaging my relatives to put the matter to bed culturally.
That he has resorted to using the social media route won’t change the fact that he is not my son.
</blockquote>
<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Tinashe_Mugabe">Tinashe Mugabe</a> is a Zimbabwean radio and television personality and host of the television show The Closure DNA Show.
Meanwhile, Chipanga, who has been holding live shows across Mutare, said he is working on a new album set to be released later this year.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/hosiah-chipanga-ready-for-dna-test/">The Manica Post</a></h4>

Hosiah Chipanga Ready For Paternity Test

Lancelot Chibwana, a Zim dancehall artiste who claims to be the illegitimate son of veteran Sungura musician, Hosiah Chipanga, is at loggerheads with his alleged father after pushing for a paternity test.
Chibwana is attempting to force Chipanga to undergo DNA tests to ascertain whether the veteran musician is truly his biological father.
He claimed that Chipanga has been deliberately avoiding him since 2010 and has not been picking up his calls.
Speaking in an interview with The Sunday Mail from his rural home in Watsomba, Chipanga insisted that Chibwana is not his son and will never go for a paternity test with him. Said Chipanga:
<blockquote>
I don’t want to talk to Lancelot because he is not my son. I have nothing, absolutely nothing to do with him.
I am not going for the DNA tests because I am 100 per cent sure that he is not my child.
Of course, I once stayed with his mother, but he is not my son.
He must mind his own business and leave me alone.
</blockquote>
Chibwana was born in Murehwa in 1988 and was raised by his maternal relatives after her mother, Memory Chibwana, died in 1994.
He said that before her death, her mother had introduced him to Chipanga as his biological son.
In 2005, Chibwana briefly stayed with Chipanga at his home in Dangamvura, Mutare before the pair moved to Harare.
Chipanga then incorporated Chibwana into his band but their relationship took a nosedive after working together for five years.
Chibwana had tried but failed to defraud Chipanga by attempting to change the ownership of his house by putting it into his name. Said Chibwana:
<blockquote>
Without informing my father, I had attempted to change the ownership of the house and put my name, but I failed.
I was booted out of the house and he has since declared that he is not my biological father.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/chipangas-son-demands-dna-tests">The Sunday Mail</a></h4>

Chipanga's Alleged Son Demands DNA Tests

The principal consultant at Global Parentage Services, trading as Global DNA Zimbabwe, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Tinashe_Mugabe ?utm_source=PindulaArticle&amp;utm_campaign=PindulaArticle">Tinashe Mugabe</a>, has approached the High Court to challenge the decision by the Health Professions Authority Zimbabwe (HPAZ) to shut down his company.
The Closure DNA is a DNA paternity show where fathers unsure about the paternity of their children get a public reveal of the DNA test results.
The regulatory authority, HPAZ, ordered the closure of The Closure DNA in September after declaring that Mugabe and his company had violated conditions it had set.
One of the conditions was a requirement that the company should employ a professional laboratory scientist at all times.
HPAZ said Mugabe was neither qualified nor competent to issue DNA test results.
Mugabe is now suing the HPAZ and the Medical Laboratory and Clinical Scientists Council Zimbabwe (MCAZ) challenging the suspension of his operations and closure of his offices.
He is denying that his company is a medical one requiring regulation by HPAZ, insisting that he only registered with them for compliance in order to operate freely.
Mugabe said after he started his operations in the business of DNA testing he was approached by HPAZ which advised him to register with them.
As part of the conditions, Global DNA was informed to employ a laboratory scientist and was also registered under MCAZ as a collection site.
He said he complied with the directives of registration until his scientist resigned from her job.
Mugabe said their centre is only a collection site and samples are sent out of Zimbabwe for testing before results are returned to Zimbabwe.
He insists that his company does not in any way “diagnose, treat, mitigate or prevent illness, injury or disability, abnormal, physical or mental state or the symptoms in human beings as defined by the Health Professions Act.”
He said his business does not in any way fall within the definition of a health institution as defined by the Act.
Mugabe said employing a laboratory scientist does not mean Global DNA was now a medical facility and maintains it is not necessary or mandated.
In this regard, he is seeking a declaratory that the HPAZ cannot at law order the closure of his offices because Global DNA is not a health institution. Through his lawyers Maunga Maanda and Associates, Mugabe said:
<blockquote>
Global DNA Zimbabwe had a legitimate expectation of being heard before an adverse decision was made against it.
It thus has an interest in the matter before this honourable court in that its business has been suspended unlawfully, with great loss to its income and the benefit it has brought to users of its services.
</blockquote>
The matter is pending.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/2021/11/16/tinashe-mugabe-goes-to-court-after-tv-paternity-show-shut-down/">ZimLive</a></h4>

Tinashe Mugabe Challenges Closure Of TV Paternity Show, The Closure DNA

Global DNA Zimbabwe has refuted allegations made by the Medical Laboratory and Clinical Scientists Council of Zimbabwe (MLCSCZ) that its conduct is unethical and is operating illegally.
On Friday MLCSCZ said Global DNA Zimbabwe principal consultant Tinashe Mugabe who hosts The Closure DNA Show and Tilder Moyo, Expedite DNA host on the Tilder Live Show are not qualified to release paternity results.
It said Global DNA Zimbabwe and Expedite DNA Zimbabwe were only registered as DNA collection sites and not authorised to conduct the actual tests.
The weekly programmes, hosted by Mugabe and Tilder, have gained popularity among ordinary Zimbabweans for exposing infidelity among couples.
Responding to the allegations by MLCSCZ, Global DNA Zimbabwe asserted that they are a legally registered entity.
The company urged the general public to disregard the MLCSCZ statement, saying they have not been banned from operating. Pindula News is publishing the statement by Global DNA Zimbabwe below:
<blockquote>
Global DNA Zimbabwe (hereinafter referred to as “The Company” has noted with concern the press release issued earlier by the Medical Laboratory and Clinical Scientists Council Zimbabwe (hereinafter referred to as the “Council).
Firstly, the company would like to reassure our stakeholders and clients that we are an upstanding and ethical business and we operate within the legal parameters of Zimbabwean law. Global DNA is a legally registered entity in Zimbabwe.
We urge the general public to disregard the false news in circulation concerning our operations being banned.
In the interim Global DNA also would like to dispel the rumors that we have been banned from operation.
We received communication from the Council dated 17 September 2021 and we are in communication with the Council to provide the necessary documentation they have since requested.
We also would like to highlight that at the time of issue of the press release, there was no prior communication or consultation with the Global DNA team and we strongly believe this issue would have been resolved without causing unnecessary alarm within the general public.
We also would like to take this time to reassure all our clients of the legality and accuracy of obtained DNA results.
As such, we would like to notify our stakeholders that we are seeking legal recourse and we will issue a detailed press statement in due course.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

Global DNA Zimbabwe Responds To 'Unethical, Illegal' Allegations

The Medical Laboratory and Clinical Scientists Council of Zimbabwe (MLCSCZ) has raised concern over the operations of Global DNA Zimbabwe and Expedite DNA Zimbabwe.
Global DNA Zimbabwe run by Tinashe Mugabe, and Expedite DNA Zimbabwe under Jane’s stewardship, conduct paternity tests and release the results on public platforms such as radio and television.
In a statement, MLCSCZ condemned the two organisations over their “unethical practice on the poor and the marginalised population” and urged the general public not to be coerced into revealing their paternity results.
It also said Mugabe and Jane were not registered as members of the Medical Laboratory and Clinical Scientists Council of Zimbabwe nor sister Health Profession Councils in Zimbabwe. The MLCSCZ statement read in part:
<ul>
<li>Global DNA Zimbabwe and Expedite DNA Zimbabwe are registered with Council as DNA collection sites and not testing sites.</li>
<li>According to the Health Professions Act, a medical laboratory test is requested by qualified and registered clinicians.</li>
<li>Upon successful completion of the testing process, the test results are sent back to the requesting clinicians who are qualified to advise patients and clients in an ethical manner.</li>
<li>Professional Code of Conducts of various health professionals in Zimbabwe clearly states that divulging either orally or in writing, any information concerning a patient/client test result ought not to be divulged to third parties except where so required by law.</li>
<li>Mr Tinashe Mugabe of Global DNA of The Closure DNA Show and Jane of Expedite DNA Zimbabwe Tilder Live Zim Show are not registered members of the Medical Laboratory &amp; Clinical Scientists Council of Zimbabwe nor sister Health Professional Councils in Zimbabwe.</li>
<li>Mr Tinashe Mugabe and Jane are not professionally qualified nor competent to issue those test results.</li>
<li>Therefore, the Medical Laboratory &amp; Clinical Scientists Council of Zimbabwe condemns such unethical practices on the poor and the marginalised population by Global DNA Zimbabwe and Expedite DNA Zimbabwe.</li>
<li>The Medical Laboratory &amp; Clinical Scientists Council of Zimbabwe urges the Zimbabwean population not to be coerced into receiving Paternity results in such an unprofessional manner.</li>
</ul>
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

Authorities Criticise 'DNA Man' Tinashe Mugabe Over Public Paternity Disclosures

Global DNA Zimbabwe has revealed that over 60 per cent of men who have gone for DNA tests, were looking after children who are not their own.
Data analysis for tests conducted on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) specimens tested by the organisation in 2019 showed that 63 per cent were negative while in  37 per cent of the tests done, the probability of paternity was 99,99 per cent. Global DNA Zimbabwe said in a statement:
<blockquote>This shows that from all the tests done by the organisation in 2019 there are more negative results than positive.</blockquote>
According to Global DNA Zimbabwe, people seek DNA tests mainly because of the high prevalence of infidelity, long-distance relationships — especially married couples.
There is also a desire to settle maintenance disputes and inheritance.
<h4>More: <a href="https://dailynews.co.zw/dna-survey-reveals-shocking-statistics/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Daily News</a></h4>

DNA Survey Results Show Disturbing Trends

The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/National_University_of_Science_and_Technology" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">National University of Science and Technology (NUST)</a> Applied Genetics Testing Centre director Zephaniah Dlamini says the institution’s DNA testing has been focused on human identification.
To date, AGTC has rendered its services to over 2 000 families seeking paternity tests. Said Dhlamini:
<blockquote>Our DNA testing has been focused on human identification including individual DNA profiling and databasing, the establishment of parentage and other biological relationships as well as forensic applications including sexual assault (rape) cases.
DNA-based paternity testing has been the most popular service, to date we have tested over 2000 families coming from all corners of Zimbabwe.</blockquote>
AGTC has been operational since 2015 and according to Dhlamini, the institution’s DNA lab has brought genetics testing to people who previously could not access the services.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/2000-families-visit-nust-dna-centre/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chronicle</a></h4>

2 000 Families Visit NUST DNA Centre For Paternity Tests

According to Global DNA Zimbabwe, 60-75 percent of men who undergo paternity tests every year get negative results indicating that they are not the fathers. In an interview with the social tabloid, H-Metro, Global DNA principal consultant Tinashe Mugabe said,
<blockquote>We get a range of 60-75 percent of results coming negative every year. These are realistic records of what we encountered…We do approximately 50 to 60 cases per month….The results are national, the sample is representative of the whole nation. We have centres countrywide Harare, Masvingo, Marondera, Bindura and many other places.
Majority of the cases they come as couples but at times you will see the mother walking in or the father and child walking in, for the discrete test.
….It’s important to be sure of the paternity, are you really the father of the child? That is important if the child is yours or you are doubting there are consequences that follow. One will not be attached to the child because you are doubting. You will not commit to the child’s daily needs and may not send them to a good school.</blockquote>
More: <a href="http://hmetro.co.zw/70-not-fathers/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">H-Metro</a>

70 Percent Of Men Who Underwent DNA Tests Not Fathers

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson senior assistant commissioner Charity Charamba said they have managed to identify the gender of the victims that were burnt beyond recognition when a Proliner bus traveling to South Africa was sideswiped by a haulage truck and caught fire in Mvuma.
Charamba said that the 8 who were identified were 4 males and 4 females although they could name them. She also revealed that police recovered the remains of a suspected infant from the scene. Charamba appealed to members of the public who suspect that their relative perished in the accident to come forward for the DNA testing process at Gweru Hospital as 13 other bodies are yet to be identified.
More: <a href="http://www.herald.co.zw/horror-bus-inferno-police-identify-8-victims/">Herald</a>

Police identify gender of 8 Proliner bus victims

Experts from the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) Applied Genetic Testing Centre (AGTC), have said that it will take about two weeks to identify the bodies of the victims of the Proliner accident. 21 people were burnt beyond recognition when the South Africa-bound  bus burned after it was sideswiped by a haulage truck. The haulage truck driver has been charged with 20 counts of culpable homicide although an additional count may be added.
AGTC chairperson Mr Zephaniah Dhlamini said his team will be working with pathologists from Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals to identify the bodies.
Said Dhlamini:
<blockquote>Today we have started the process to identify the bodies. All of them were burnt beyond recognition, some were dismembered. The pathologist will determine whether the body was male or female. In the DNA section, we will take samples of the bones.
We are going to extract the DNA from the lab and get DNA samples from relatives then we’ll look for matches. We hope that in two weeks we will be done with the matching process</blockquote>
More: <a href="http://www.chronicle.co.zw/2-weeks-to-identify-bus-accident-victims/">Chronicle</a>

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