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Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A MUTARE court last week granted an application made by a local man requesting for DNA tests on his two children.
This was despite spirited resistance from the wife, Ratidzo Mugomba who reportedly asked her ex-husband, Maxwell Mudhombodzi to hire a private vehicle to ferry the children from Murambinda to Mutare for the DNA tests.
Mutare magistrate, Ms Perseverence Makala ordered Mugomba to cooperate with Mudhombodzi’s request and warned her against making exorbitant requests from her ex-husband.
In her demands, Mugomba asked Mudhombodzi to provide a private vehicle with security officers to escort the children for their safety.
She also demanded cash for food and accommodation for the day. However, Ms Makala only granted her US$30 for the children’s transport fare.
“You should be serious. We are not trying to fix anyone here, but to find out the truth whether the children are his or not. He should give you US$30 for transport and nothing else. He has already paid for the tests and they should be conducted within the coming two weeks,” said Ms Makala.
Mudhombodzi filed an application at Mutare Civil seeking an order compelling Mugomba to avail their two children for DNA tests.
He was accusing her of hiding the two children to avoid the DNA tests. The couple separated in 2014 due to irreconcilable differences and the children in question are aged 13 and 10 respectively.
Mudhombodzi alleged that Mugomba who is a teacher in Murambinda was promiscuous during the course of their marriage.
He said during the course of their marriage, he received calls from another man claiming that one of the children was his.
He said that, coupled with Mugomba’s refusal to let him access the children, has doubled his paternity doubts.
Mudhombodzi’s application reads: “When I was married to Mugomba, I was suspicious that she was having extra marital affairs, which I later discovered to be true. This led to the breakdown of our marriage. When the first child was born, I received telephone calls from someone claiming that the child was his. I ignored the messages until recently when the issue crept up again.
“I am no longer at peace with the thought that the children may not be mine. I believe it is in the best interest of the children to have the paternity tests.
“I have been looking after the children and I am contributing towards their upkeep. Despite this, I am being denied access to the children. I believe it is because of this issue. I want to ascertain the paternity of the children so that I can also assert my rights if I am confirmed as their father and also to be able to contribute towards their maintenance with a free mind,” wrote Mudhombodzi.
As a result, he raised money and paid Global DNA to do the tests. Mudhombodzi attached a receipt that showed that he paid US$296 to Global DNA for the tests.
“She shifted goalposts on the day of the appointment. She was nowhere to be seen. She is now refusing to bring the children for the tests to be conducted. I stand prejudiced if the tests are not done,” he said.
In her opposing affidavit, Mugomba disputed Mudhombodzi’s application, stating that he was the one who had cheated on her several times during the course of their relationship.
She also denied allegations that they had discussed the issue of paternity tests on the children.
She said she only got to know of it from Mudhombodzi’s application.
“We never discussed about paternity tests for the children. It is shocking to see this application. He never told me about the need to do the paternity tests. I only got to know of this through his frivolous application to this court. The children have actually been missing their father as he rarely visits them,” wrote Mugomba.
Ms Makala adjourned the matter to December 23 for the availing of the DNA results.
Online Reporter