Zimbabwe MP Proposes Mandatory DNA Testing for All Newborns

DNA test

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.

According to the legislator, the results of the test should be attached to the child’s birth certificate as proof of parentage. Tshuma argued that such a system could help prevent situations where men are forced to support children who are not biologically theirs while also safeguarding inheritance rights for children. The MP also called on the government to make DNA testing affordable and widely accessible by equipping hospitals with the necessary testing machines.

The proposal comes after similar calls were made by Bridget Nyandoro, the Member of Parliament for Southerton, who previously indicated that she intended to introduce a motion in Parliament advocating for mandatory DNA testing at birth. Speaking at the Action Indaba on Gender-Based Violence symposium in Harare in August 2025, Nyandoro said compulsory DNA testing could help reduce cases of gender-based violence linked to paternity disputes.

“I am going to move a motion in Parliament to have mandatory DNA testing at birth,” Nyandoro said at the time. “I know it is not going to be a favourable one, but I believe it will go a long way in mitigating the effects of gender-based violence.”

Nyandoro argued that some violent incidents occur when paternity disputes surface many years after a child has been raised by a presumed father.

“Many times, we have seen women being killed after 22 years when someone discovers they have been taking care of a child who is not theirs,” she said.

The debate around compulsory testing has been fuelled by statistics released by Global DNA Zimbabwe. According to the laboratory, 72% of the paternity tests it has conducted returned negative results, indicating that the presumed fathers were not biologically related to the children involved. The figures have sparked discussion across Zimbabwe about family law, parental responsibility, and the potential role of DNA testing in resolving disputes.

However, mandatory testing proposals could also raise ethical, legal, and privacy concerns, including the cost of nationwide implementation and questions about consent. As discussions continue, any proposal for compulsory DNA testing would require parliamentary approval and significant policy adjustments before being implemented nationwide.

Mandatory DNA testing Zimbabwe