Rusape Pastor Paternity Dispute Goes to DNA Test

By Staff Reporter | Rusape

A Rusape-based pastor has become embroiled in a paternity dispute after her husband accused a fellow congregant of having an affair with her and fathering their youngest child. The dispute has been taken before Chief Makoni’s community court, where Itai Kalimbwe, 54, of Acacia Street, is seeking US$10 000 and five cattle from Obey Gudza, 34. Kalimbwe alleges that Gudza, a neighbour and fellow congregant at Faith to Victory Ministries, had an affair with his wife, Marvellous Tsindi, 43, who is also a pastor.

He claims the alleged relationship resulted in the birth of a child who is now one year and eight months old. However, Gudza has denied the allegations, leaving the paternity question unresolved. Giving evidence before the traditional court, Kalimbwe said he and Gudza had previously been close friends and worshipped together in the same cell prayer group. He said their families also regularly visited each other for prayers and social gatherings.

Kalimbwe, who works as a builder, said his suspicions began growing during periods when his work kept him away from home. “While I was away, I received information that my wife and Gudza were regularly being seen together,” he told the court. He said he spent almost three years trying to establish whether the two were involved in a relationship. Kalimbwe told the court that his suspicions intensified after his wife became more protective of her mobile phone and introduced a password.

He also alleged that he once borrowed a vehicle and followed his wife after seeing Gudza collect her from her workplace. According to Kalimbwe, Gudza later dropped Tsindi at home and hugged her before leaving. The pastor also raised questions about events surrounding the birth of the child. He alleged that Tsindi insisted Gudza should drive her to hospital when she went into labour and later prevented him from naming the child.

Kalimbwe further claimed that he became suspicious when the baby’s hair was shaved despite his objections. He said members of Gudza’s family had also allegedly made comments suggesting that Gudza was the child's biological father. One incident, he told the court, occurred at Evergreen Market when Gudza's younger brother allegedly made such a claim while Kalimbwe was carrying the child.

Kalimbwe said the allegations had caused significant strain in his marriage. He accused his wife of becoming emotionally distant and alleged that she denied him conjugal rights. He also claimed to have discovered that she had another cellphone and alleged that Gudza had previously replaced one of her damaged phones. The matter reportedly became more public after an alleged argument between Gudza and his own wife, during which she allegedly accused him of fathering Kalimbwe's child.

Kalimbwe further told the court that his 10-year-old son later found messages on Tsindi's phone in which she allegedly asked Gudza to buy clothes for the child. Gudza, however, rejected the allegations in their entirety. “I deny everything. These accusations are new to me,” he told the court. He said he worked as a mushikashika driver and regularly transported different passengers, suggesting that his interactions with Tsindi did not establish an affair.

Gudza also said his wife was unaware of the case. Chief Makoni did not determine whether the alleged affair took place or whether Gudza was the child's biological father. Instead, the traditional court ordered scientific testing to establish the child's paternity. The matter was postponed pending the DNA results. The tests are expected to provide evidence that could determine how the dispute proceeds, including whether the paternity allegations have a biological basis. Until the results are available, the allegations made by either party remain unproven.

Rusape pastor paternity dispute