Man Awarded US$2,500 Refund After DNA Test Disproves Paternity
A Hwange man has been granted a refund of US$2,500 in child maintenance after a court ruled that he was not the biological father of the child he had been supporting.
The decision followed DNA test results which confirmed the child was fathered by another man.
Also Read: Zimbabwean Man Petitions Parliament for Mandatory DNA Tests in Maintenance Cases
Long-Running Dispute Over Paternity
Clean Nyathi, from Dete, said the issue dates back to 2014 when doubts about the child’s paternity first emerged. He maintained that he had long suspected he was not the father and repeatedly pushed for a DNA test.
“This whole issue started in 2014 in Dete. I always knew deep down that the child was not mine. That is why I pushed for a DNA test,” he said.
Delays in DNA Testing
Nyathi said his former partner, Cynthia Dube, initially resisted calls for testing, raising further suspicion.
“She kept refusing when I asked for DNA. That alone raised suspicion,” he said.
He eventually paid about US$450 for the DNA test himself to resolve the matter.
Years of Maintenance Payments
Before the results, Nyathi had been paying maintenance for several years, with monthly contributions gradually increasing.
“I have been paying maintenance for years. It started at US$40, then US$50, then US$60. All that time, I was paying for a child that is not mine,” he said.
Court Orders Refund
Following confirmation that Nyathi was not the father, the court ordered Dube to repay US$2,500 within seven days. However, she said the ruling had placed her under financial strain as she does not have the means to raise the money within the set timeframe.
Different Accounts of Relationship
Dube said she met Nyathi while she was already involved in another relationship and later moved in with him after disputes with her partner. She said she was already pregnant at the time, and the relationship eventually broke down, leading to maintenance disputes.
She also indicated that although she agreed to the DNA test, delays prolonged the process for years.
Next Steps Uncertain
Nyathi said he is not immediately pursuing the repayment but may return to court if the money is not refunded.
“If I don’t get it, I will eventually take it back to court,” he said.
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