By Michael Gwarisa
As calls for mandatory DNA testing grow louder, Southerton Constituency Legislator Honourable Bridget Nyandoro has indicated she will soon move a motion in Parliament to make DNA testing compulsory for all children at birth.
Her proposal comes amid rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide linked to paternity disputes, as more cases of negative paternity results continue to surface.
Speaking during an Action Indaba on GBV symposium in Harare, Hon. Nyandoro said, “I am going to move a motion in Parliament to have mandatory DNA testing at birth. I know it is not going to be a favourable one, but I believe it will go a long way in mitigating the effects of gender-based violence. Many times, we have seen women being killed after 22 years when someone discovers they have been taking care of a child who is not theirs.”
She added that the emotional toll of disputed paternity on children, who often discover later in life that they do not biologically belong to the man they have always called father, was devastating. She said mandatory testing would also protect children from unnecessary trauma and long-term mental health challenges.
A few weeks ago, opposition leader Linda Masarira also called for mandatory paternity testing at birth to protect both men and children.
“This might be an unpopular opinion with many of my sisters, but it must be said. Far too often, we see situations where women are forcing, manipulating, or even blackmailing men into taking care of children from previous relationships or marriages—children who are not biologically theirs.
“This is unfair. It places a heavy and unnecessary burden on men, both financially and emotionally. It is also a form of deception that erodes trust, dignity, and mental health.”
Recent data from Global DNA Zimbabwe has unveiled startling findings regarding paternity testing in the country. According to the latest statistics, a staggering 72% of paternity tests conducted have returned negative results, meaning that in most cases, presumed fathers are not biologically related to the children they are raising.
These figures suggest a growing trend of men unknowingly raising children who are not their own, raising critical questions about trust, family dynamics, and the increasing demand for DNA testing services.
In an interview with HealthTimes, Partners Chiriseri from Global DNA Zimbabwe revealed that a significant number of men undergoing DNA tests discover they are not the biological fathers of their children.
“The current statistics for people who have undergone testing are both shocking and interesting. Most clients come for paternity tests, and currently, 72% of the results issued are negative, while only 28% are positive,” said Chiriseri.
He explained that paternity tests produce only two possible results—either 0% or 99.99% certainty. There are no intermediate percentages, as partial probabilities only apply to relationship tests.
