Chief Mangwende, a traditional leader, has expressed concern over the increasing number of couples seeking DNA tests and the significant toll it takes on the mental health of the children involved in these disputes.
He lamented that children often suffer emotional and physical abuse during the process. Said Chief Mangwende (via <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/dna-tests-inflicting-serious-damage-on-kids-says-chief/">H-Metro</a>):
<blockquote>
We have noted with concern some emotional and physical abuse suffered by children being taken for DNA tests.
Some children are left emotionally damaged after being taken through paternal tests. These children are affected by these disputes.
When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.
In the fight fight between the couples, the children are the ones who are most affected and we must consider their protection for a better future.
</blockquote>
Chief Mangwende explained that, traditionally, African culture had mechanisms in place to protect all children, including those born out of illicit relationships. He said:
<blockquote>
According to our tradition and culture, our elders used to safeguard the children, even those who were born out of wedlock.
Ndosaka mainzwa vakuru vedu vaiti gomba harina mwana (That’s why our elders would say that a lover has no child).
It was a way of protecting life of the children.
</blockquote>
According to Chief Mangwende, traditionally, nature had its own ways of punishing women who cheated on their husbands. He said:
<blockquote>
The woman suffered greatly during childbirth. She would experience more pain upon giving birth until she confessed to having cheated.
Vakuru vaikanda zviyo mumoto zvikaputika vaibva vaziva kuti anemumwe murume waakafambidzana naye. (Our elders would throw grain into the fire, and if it popped, they would know that someone was involved with another man’s wife).
The cheating wife would confess. Protection of children during that time was always the priority.
</blockquote>
The rising demand for DNA testing in Zimbabwe is largely due to paternity disputes. Many men seek DNA tests to establish paternity, particularly in situations where they suspect infidelity from their wives or girlfriends and consequently question the biological parentage of their children.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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Chief Mangwende is worried about kids getting hurt emotionally from DNA tests. Kids can be abused during the process. In the old days, African culture protected all children, even from secret relationships. The chief said nature would punish women who cheated on their husbands. Nowadays, many people in Zimbabwe want DNA tests to know if they are the real parents. This causes a lot of fighting and worry. Chief Mangwende wants to make sure children are safe and protected in these situations.

Chief Mangwende Warns Of Emotional Toll Of DNA Tests On Children

A Gweru man received a reprieve from a Bulawayo magistrate who discharged a maintenance order requiring him to pay for the upkeep of two minor children he allegedly fathered with a former girlfriend.
As reported by the <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/no-maintenance-monies-until-after-dna-tests/">Chronicle</a>, Givemore Shekede had been providing US$350 monthly to Mazvita Chinyoka for the support of their children, aged 12 and 8.
However, court records indicate that Chinyoka has been avoiding paternity tests to confirm whether Shekede is indeed the biological father.
During the hearing on Monday, Presiding Magistrate Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe ordered Chinyoka to promptly submit to the tests at the National Blood Services in Harare.
It was noted that she had been notified by the court on two separate occasions but failed to comply. Said Chikwekwe:
<blockquote>
Chinyoka was aware of the booking that had been made and she was sent documents by the court. After this was done, the respondent did not file opposing papers.
</blockquote>
In her defence, Chinyoka told the court that she did not have money to travel to Harare for the DNA tests.
However, in his judgement, Chikwekwe said Chinyoka is employed by the Ministry of Public Service and Social Welfare and is aware of the law but professes ignorance on the matter that directly affects her. Ruled the magistrate:
<blockquote>
She said she has no bus fare to go for the DNA tests, which the applicant paid for and are very costly.
The applicant has the right to know or have it proven scientifically that the children are his.
He has played his part by not only paying the monthly maintenance but also travelling from Gweru to Harare.
In light of the above, the baton is passed to the respondent, if she still insists the children are biologically the children of the applicant, she still has the opportunity to initiate the DNA tests as the applicant did.
Accordingly, the maintenance order granted by this court on the 27th of February is hereby discharged, forthwith.
</blockquote>
A paternity test is a scientific procedure used to determine whether a specific man is the biological father of a child.
This test typically involves analysing DNA samples from the child, the alleged father, and sometimes the mother.
The test provides a probability of paternity, often reported as a percentage. A probability of 99% or higher typically indicates that the man is the biological father.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

A man in Gweru didn't have to pay money for his kids until tests showed he was their dad. He gave his ex-girlfriend $350 each month for their kids. The court said the ex-girlfriend needed to do DNA tests, but she didn't. The court said she had to do the tests and prove if he was the dad. The dad said he paid for the tests, but the mom didn't go. The court canceled the dad's money order until they know for sure if he is the father. A paternity test helps to find out if a man is a child's real dad.

Court Suspends Gweru Man's Child Maintenance Payments Pending DNA Tests

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.

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