Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator Bridget Nyandoro said that she intends to table a motion in Parliament calling for compulsory DNA testing for all children at birth.
The proposal follows a surge in gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide cases linked to paternity disputes, with an increasing number of negative paternity results coming to light.
Speaking at the Action Indaba on GBV symposium in Harare, Nyandoro, who represents Southern Constituency in the National Assembly, 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.”
Nyandoro said that disputed paternity has a profound emotional toll on children, many of whom only discover later in life that the man they have always called “father” is not their biological parent.
She argued that mandatory DNA testing at birth would help shield children from such trauma and reduce the risk of long-term psychological harm.
Her call echoes recent remarks by opposition activist Linda Masarira, who also called for compulsory paternity testing as a safeguard for both men and children. Said Masarira:
“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.”
More: HealthTimes
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