News / National
Army boss loses fake 'son' case
20 Jul 2015 at 10:00hrs | Views
An army boss who demanded $14 400 from his ex-girlfriend for a fake "son" last week lost the case after it emerged that he voluntarily supported the woman in exchange for sexual favours.
Ruth Musonza (39) of Unit L in Chitungwiza made the revelations after her co-habiting boyfriend, Colonel Richard Parwada (57) of Mt Pleasant in Harare saw her with another man.
Col Parwada wanted Musonza to pay him back $14 400 he said he paid as maintenance for a "son" who turned out to be her young sister's child.
Musonza told the court in her defence that she fell in love with Col Parwada in 2002 while staying in Shamva.
"He was maintaining me alone until my young sister brought her son after she had a dispute with her husband. The complainant (Col Parwada) asked me about the child. I told him the truth and he said it was not a problem.
"We stayed together and the child started calling him 'Dad' since I was cohabiting with him," said Musonza.
Musonza challenged Col Parwada to tell the court if he ever asked for the minor's birth certificate.
The court heard that trouble started after Col Parwada saw Musonza with another man and decided to fix her.
In his evidence, after being asked to comment on Musonza's pregnancy, Parwada said he just believed that she had indeed fallen pregnant.
"I left for South Africa on duty and believed that she was pregnant after seeing her stomach bulging," he said.
Chitungwiza magistrate Ms Jessy Kufa dismissed the claim. "Complainant (Parwada) never revealed to the court why he failed to have sight of the birth certificate. Accused (Musonza) said she never asked him to maintain them, but voluntarily did so as a fatherly role. It is a common cause that, and no doubt, a man can maintain a woman for sexual favours," said Ms Kufa.
Ms Kufa continued; "The State failed to prove an element of intentional prejudice on the part of the complainant and the accused is therefore found not guilty and acquitted."
Allegations were that the two fell in love and stayed together in Shamva until May 2002 when Col Parwada was deployed to South Africa.
He was told that Musonza gave birth to a son.
He reportedly maintained the boy for eight years only to learn later that the minor was not his child.
He then decided to sue to Musonza.
Ruth Musonza (39) of Unit L in Chitungwiza made the revelations after her co-habiting boyfriend, Colonel Richard Parwada (57) of Mt Pleasant in Harare saw her with another man.
Col Parwada wanted Musonza to pay him back $14 400 he said he paid as maintenance for a "son" who turned out to be her young sister's child.
Musonza told the court in her defence that she fell in love with Col Parwada in 2002 while staying in Shamva.
"He was maintaining me alone until my young sister brought her son after she had a dispute with her husband. The complainant (Col Parwada) asked me about the child. I told him the truth and he said it was not a problem.
"We stayed together and the child started calling him 'Dad' since I was cohabiting with him," said Musonza.
Musonza challenged Col Parwada to tell the court if he ever asked for the minor's birth certificate.
The court heard that trouble started after Col Parwada saw Musonza with another man and decided to fix her.
In his evidence, after being asked to comment on Musonza's pregnancy, Parwada said he just believed that she had indeed fallen pregnant.
"I left for South Africa on duty and believed that she was pregnant after seeing her stomach bulging," he said.
Chitungwiza magistrate Ms Jessy Kufa dismissed the claim. "Complainant (Parwada) never revealed to the court why he failed to have sight of the birth certificate. Accused (Musonza) said she never asked him to maintain them, but voluntarily did so as a fatherly role. It is a common cause that, and no doubt, a man can maintain a woman for sexual favours," said Ms Kufa.
Ms Kufa continued; "The State failed to prove an element of intentional prejudice on the part of the complainant and the accused is therefore found not guilty and acquitted."
Allegations were that the two fell in love and stayed together in Shamva until May 2002 when Col Parwada was deployed to South Africa.
He was told that Musonza gave birth to a son.
He reportedly maintained the boy for eight years only to learn later that the minor was not his child.
He then decided to sue to Musonza.
Source - the herald
