adminSenior Reporter
A 23-YEAR-OLD woman from Bulawayo’s Magwegwe North suburb abandoned her month-old son in protest over her boyfriend’s failure to fend for her and the baby as well as his use of abusive language towards her. Speaking to Chronicle at his parents’ home at House Number 1264 Magwegwe North, Mr Limukani Baloyi (24) said his girlfriend, Ms Julie Msimanga deserted him and the child on Saturday following a misunderstanding over paternity of the baby.
He said the two were not legally married but have been staying together for some time at his rented room in Pelandaba.
“We had a misunderstanding when she got pregnant. She had told me that the pregnancy had been terminated. She then disappeared for six months only to resurface recently with the baby claiming it was mine,” said Mr Baloyi.
“I accepted that we stay together but I am not satisfied that this child is mine after what she said. I think we need to do a DNA test. Shockingly yesterday (Saturday) she abandoned the baby and disappeared again.”
Mr Baloyi said he was not able to look after the infant and had to take it to his mother.
“How can she leave a month-old baby with me knowing I cannot nurse it? That is why I took it to my mother. I have also reported the case to the police,” he said.
Mr Baloyi’s mother, who identified herself as Ms Sibanda, confirmed that the baby was brought to her house yesterday morning.
“I have no problem with my daughter-in-law but it seems the two have a problem and need to be assisted. Yes she abandoned the child but
I do not like to have family issues splashed in the media,” she said.
Ms Msimanga admitted that she had abandoned her baby in a bid to fix her boyfriend, whom she accused of failing to provide for the baby.
“He has been harsh to me since we stayed together. He failed to buy the required items for the baby and could not provide enough food for me,” she said.
“Whenever I asked him, he used abusive language. At times he would answer phone calls and view photographs of his girlfriends in front of me. I concluded that this was a sign that he did not want me anymore. I decided to part ways with him and left the baby in his hands.”
Ms Msimanga insisted that Mr Baloyi was the real father of the child and said her abortion utterances were just out of anger.
“I talked about abortion to frustrate him after what he had done to me. I then went to my rural home in Filabusi where I stayed for six months. We can go for DNA tests if he wants to prove that he is the real father,” she said.
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