Source: Chigwedere seeks son’s incarceration over DNA test – NewsDay Zimbabwe May 24, 2019
Former Education minister Aeneas Chigwedere has approached the High Court, seeking a 30-day jail term against his son, Mangwiza, in order to compel him to undergo paternity tests as the witchcraft saga between the two took another twist.
BY CHARLES LAITON
Chigwedere, who is also a renowned historian, successfully obtained a court order in July last year which compelled Mangwiza to undergo DNA paternity testing following a protracted family dispute over witchcraft claims.
Mangwiza has been accusing his father of causing several deaths in the Chigwedere clan as well as causing misfortunes to his own children, an allegation that prompted the former minister to doubt having fathered him.
“I obtained a judgment on July 31, 2018 under case number HC1029/18 where the respondent (Mangwiza) was ordered to submit himself to DNA tests for the purpose of determining the respondent’s paternity,” Chigwedere said in his founding affidavit.
“I booked and paid for a paternity test on April 15, 2019 at AiBST DNA Testing Centre at Wilkins Hospital and at Lancet Clinical Laboratories and notified the respondent of the same. The respondent, however, did not show up for the test. I have tried before to make him comply with the court order, but he still continues to be in defiance of the order.
“The respondent, therefore, wilfully failed to comply with a lawful court order and is, thus, in contempt of court and I, accordingly, pray for an order in terms of the draft.”
In his earlier affidavit, the former Mashonaland East governor said, among the various reasons that prompted him to approach the court for such relief, was the fact that Mangwiza’s birth, childhood and adulthood had always been clouded by “issues which always cast suspicion and doubt on whether or not he is my biological son”.
“Sadly, it has now become critical that the issue be resolved as we both now have competing rights and interests regarding the devolution of my estate in the event of my demise,” he added.
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