adminMaria Chiguvari
A HARARE man yesterday questioned the paternity of his first-born daughter.
This emerged at the Harare Civil Court where Loicy Mutasa was seeking a protection order against her husband, Howard Nyamande.
She was accusing him of threatening to evict her from their matrimonial home.
However, magistrate Tamara Chibindi, dismissed the application and said Loicy should not abuse the court.
Loicy said Howard was aware that the child was not his, from the beginning, and he even suggested that they keep it a secret.
“It was a secret between my husband and I. We agreed to keep it between us.
“I told him that I was pregnant and he said it was not a problem because his family had a similar case.
“After a few years, he suggested that I send my daughter away from the house because he had tried his best.
“It was not a problem because my sister offered to look after her,” Loicy said.
Howard disputed Loicy’s submissions, saying there was never such an agreement, and that she was lying that he knew the child was not his.
“She is lying. For the past 10-years I have been caring for a child that is not mine,” Howard said.
Howard’s sister revealed that Loicy was never welcomed into their family.
“Loicy was never welcomed into the family because we knew that she was forcing my brother.
“We can no longer take responsibility for a child whose paternity is not clear; she has been fooling us.
“A paternity test must be done to prove whether the child in question is our blood.
“I am pained by the fact that my mother was the one who took care of her child.
“Enough is enough, we want a paternity test,” the sister said.
Magistrate Chibindi advised the couple to seek professional help or family counselling.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter