A court in Hwange has ordered a woman to repay US$2,500 in child maintenance to her former partner after a DNA test confirmed he is not the biological father of the child. The case, involving Clean Nyathi of Dete and his former partner Cynthia Dube, highlights growing disputes in Zimbabwe over paternity, maintenance payments, and the legal weight of DNA evidence.

HARARE – Spencer Tshuma, the Member of Parliament for Gokwe-Kabuyuni, has proposed that all newborn babies in Zimbabwe undergo mandatory DNA testing before birth certificates are issued, arguing that the measure could help resolve paternity disputes and protect family rights. Speaking in the Parliament of Zimbabwe last week, Tshuma said compulsory DNA testing at birth would ensure that children are correctly linked to their biological parents.