DNA tests exonerate man
DNA tests saved a Mutare man from being ripped-off by a woman who was claiming that he was the biological father of her fiveyear-old child.
For the past five years, Simon Mutaramutswa was made to believe that Talent Matsanga’s first born child was his.
He was even providing for all the girl’s needs.
However, things took a drastic turn early this year when Mutaramutswa turned his back on his family.
On August 26, the couple appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Xavier Chipato, who ruled that Mutaramutswa should pay $30 000 for the maintenance of his two children.
However, Mutaramutswa was disputing the paternity of the first child and was therefore asked to undergo a DNA test.
As he had suspected, the DNA test results showed that he did not sir the first child.
However, it was proved that he sired the second child.
Appearing in court recently, Matsanga asked for a review of the monthly maintenance from $30 000 to US$40.
In a counter application, Mutaramutswa applied for a downwards variation from $30 000 to $15 000.
However, Mr Chipato dismissed the two applications saying the $30 000 Mutaramutswa is paying is reasonable for the maintenance of his minor child.
Matsanga argued that Mutaramutswa knew that her first child was not his as she was already pregnant when they met.
She said she used to be Mutaramutswa’s domestic worker when he raped her.
Matsanga said they agreed that Mutarmutswa would marry her on condition that he would look after her unborn child.
“I was cleaning the house when he locked the door and raped me. He threatened me against making a police report. I told him that I was already pregnant, but he said he would marry me and take care of my child like his own. When I applied for maintenance, it was based on our 2017 agreement,” said Matsanga.
“He used juju to make me his wife. I did not want to be his wife. Whenever I tried to ditch him, he would threaten me saying I would be a pauper as he had cast a spell on me. He would say no man would marry me because of the spell. I was scared until I decided to leave him in May,” she said.
Matsanga said she left her matrimonial home after Mutaramutswa turned his back on the family.
“I left because of starvation. I was tired of begging for food from my neighbours. He had completely abandoned us,” said Matsanga.
Mutaramutswa said he never turned his back on Matsanga and the children.
He was also demanding custody of the second child, saying the mother is negligent.
However, Matsanga refused to surrender her second child into Mutaramutswa’s custody, arguing that his relatives are not capable of looking after her child.