News / National
Man demands DNA test for adopted child
14 Jul 2017 at 02:30hrs | Views
IT wasn't me!
A man who fell in love with a three-months pregnant woman 12 years ago and went on to marry her and have other children is now refusing to take responsibility for the resultant child.
Appearing before Bulawayo magistrate Tinashe Tashaya, Elias Muchadenyika who is now on separation with Viola Muchadenyika demanded the courts to scrap the child's upkeep because it was not his biological child although the birth certificate names him as the father.
"I am questioning the paternity of my first child who is 12 years old. I met my wife Viola when she was already pregnant. I cannot continue paying maintenance for a child who is not mine," declared Elias.
Elias pleaded with the courts to cancel the $100 he was paying towards the upkeep of the child so that it can be channelled towards the spousal support and the maintenance of other children.
"I find it unfair for me to continue supporting another man's child while he is living it up elsewhere," said Elias.
In response, Viola who didn't dispute her husband's claims explained that she was surprised by his actions as he was fully aware of the child's paternity when they got married.
She said Elias pledged to look after the child after she told him she was pregnant when he proposed love to her.
"I met Elias when I was three months pregnant and he agreed to look after the child upon its birth. What now shocks me is that he even had the child's birth certificate registered under his name showing that he voluntarily adopted the child and it is now not fair for him to say the child is not his when he volunteered to look after him," said Viola.
Elias was however, left with egg on his face when the magistrate scrapped his plea for a DNA test saying he should continue paying maintenance for the child after he voluntarily adopted him before birth.
"You were fully aware that the child is not yours and you chose to adopt and raise him as your own. Because of that we cannot scrap the maintenance and you are ordered to continue contributing towards the child's upkeep," ruled the magistrate.
A man who fell in love with a three-months pregnant woman 12 years ago and went on to marry her and have other children is now refusing to take responsibility for the resultant child.
Appearing before Bulawayo magistrate Tinashe Tashaya, Elias Muchadenyika who is now on separation with Viola Muchadenyika demanded the courts to scrap the child's upkeep because it was not his biological child although the birth certificate names him as the father.
"I am questioning the paternity of my first child who is 12 years old. I met my wife Viola when she was already pregnant. I cannot continue paying maintenance for a child who is not mine," declared Elias.
Elias pleaded with the courts to cancel the $100 he was paying towards the upkeep of the child so that it can be channelled towards the spousal support and the maintenance of other children.
"I find it unfair for me to continue supporting another man's child while he is living it up elsewhere," said Elias.
In response, Viola who didn't dispute her husband's claims explained that she was surprised by his actions as he was fully aware of the child's paternity when they got married.
She said Elias pledged to look after the child after she told him she was pregnant when he proposed love to her.
"I met Elias when I was three months pregnant and he agreed to look after the child upon its birth. What now shocks me is that he even had the child's birth certificate registered under his name showing that he voluntarily adopted the child and it is now not fair for him to say the child is not his when he volunteered to look after him," said Viola.
Elias was however, left with egg on his face when the magistrate scrapped his plea for a DNA test saying he should continue paying maintenance for the child after he voluntarily adopted him before birth.
"You were fully aware that the child is not yours and you chose to adopt and raise him as your own. Because of that we cannot scrap the maintenance and you are ordered to continue contributing towards the child's upkeep," ruled the magistrate.
Source - bmetro
