In a significant legal victory, Givemore Shekede, a Gweru resident, has been released from a maintenance order requiring him to pay $350 monthly for two minor children he allegedly fathered with his former girlfriend, Mazvita Chinyoka.
According to reports, the Bulawayo magistrate, Vakai Douglas Chikwekwe, discharged the order due to Chinyoka’s persistent avoidance of paternity tests to confirm the children’s biological father.
Despite being employed by the Ministry of Public Service and Social Welfare, Chinyoka claimed she couldn’t afford to travel to Harare for the tests.
However, the magistrate saw through her defense, pointing out her awareness of the law and her deliberate evasion of the paternity tests.
The court has now ordered Chinyoka to undergo the tests at the National Blood Services in Harare, bringing a sense of relief to Shekede, who has been shouldering the financial burden without confirmation of his paternity.
This ruling highlights the importance of establishing biological facts in maintenance disputes and ensures that individuals are not unjustly held responsible for child support.
