Court Orders Woman to Refund US$2,500 After DNA Test Twist

A long-running child maintenance dispute has taken a dramatic turn after a DNA test confirmed that a man was not the biological father of a child he had supported for years.

A court has ruled that a woman must repay US$2,500 to her former partner, money he had been contributing as maintenance, after scientific evidence showed the child was fathered by someone else.

Clean Nyathi, a resident of Dete in Hwange, said he pursued a DNA test after his ex-partner, Cynthia Dube, allegedly threatened legal action over missed payments.

According to Nyathi, he had long doubted he was the father and repeatedly requested a paternity test, which he claims was declined several times before eventually being carried out.

“I always had doubts from the beginning. That’s why I kept pushing for the DNA test,” he said.

Nyathi explained that over the years, he had been paying increasing maintenance fees, starting at US$40 and rising to US$60 per month, all for a child he now knows is not his. He also stated that he personally covered around US$450 to facilitate the DNA testing process.

The court’s ruling has placed financial pressure on Dube, who reportedly said she is unable to raise the ordered amount within the given seven-day deadline.

Now married with two children, she described the judgment as a significant setback.

Dube acknowledged that her relationship with Nyathi began while she was involved with someone else. She said circumstances, including conflict in her previous relationship, led her to move in with Nyathi while already pregnant.

The case, which dates back to 2014, highlights the complexities surrounding paternity disputes and maintenance obligations.

Despite winning the case, Nyathi indicated he is not urgently pursuing repayment but may return to court if the money is not paid.