HARARE: A proposal to require DNA verification before issuing birth certificates has ignited intense debate in Zimbabwe after lawmakers raised the issue in the Parliament, with legislators arguing that scientific confirmation of parentage could resolve long-standing paternity disputes and protect both fathers and children.
The proposal was recently advanced by Spencer Tshuma, the Member of Parliament for Gokwe-Kabuyuni, who told Parliament that Zimbabwe should consider making DNA testing mandatory for newborn babies, with the results attached to birth certificates as proof of parentage.
The suggestion has triggered nationwide discussion about family law, inheritance rights, child protection and privacy, while drawing attention to a broader social issue that has increasingly surfaced in courts, communities and television programmes across the country.
Speaking during parliamentary proceedings, Tshuma argued that establishing paternity at birth could prevent disputes that often arise years later when fathers question whether they are the biological parents of children they have raised.
The legislator proposed that no birth certificate should be issued without DNA verification, adding that hospitals could be equipped with testing machines to make the process routine.
According to the MP, attaching DNA results to birth certificates would provide clear and indisputable proof of parentage, ensuring that children inherit from their biological fathers while protecting men from being forced to support children who are not theirs.
During the parliamentary debate, Tshuma said paternity disputes often escalate into domestic conflict and legal battles over child maintenance.
“Yes, a DNA test must be conducted before the child’s birth certificate is issued,” he told lawmakers during debate on the issue.
He argued that the absence of scientific verification has left many families vulnerable to disputes that can surface years later, sometimes after fathers have already invested significant emotional and financial resources in raising children.
The proposal has also drawn support and scrutiny from many people across the country.
Zimbabweans argued that DNA testing could help resolve disputes that arise in maintenance courts when men challenge paternity claims.
Members of Parliament debating the issue noted that many fathers only seek DNA verification after courts have already ordered them to pay child support, placing them under financial pressure even when they doubt paternity.
Others emphasised that the policy should balance the rights of fathers with the welfare and protection of children, which remains central to family law.
“Paternity disputes can have serious psychological and social consequences for families and children,” said Amon Chokuinga, a Harare resident. “ There are cases where men discover decades later that children they raised are not biologically theirs, a revelation that can cause emotional distress and family breakdowns.”
In Zimbabwe, DNA testing is already used in family courts when paternity is disputed, particularly in cases involving child maintenance.
Legal experts say Tshuma’s proposal seeks to shift verification earlier, potentially preventing court battles and uncertainty.
“Under the proposed approach, paternity would be established immediately after birth, before legal responsibilities such as maintenance or inheritance claims come into effect,” said Victor Mucheche, a legal practitoner.
The debate has also been influenced by the growing popularity of paternity testing programmes such as the television show hosted by Tinashe Mugabe, widely known for revealing DNA test results to families seeking closure.
The programme has gained national attention by exposing paternity disputes and has contributed to wider public awareness about DNA testing.
Outside of the parliament, some Zimbabweans referred to the programme as an example of how frequently paternity disputes arise in Zimbabwe.
“The programme had revealed the emotional toll of such discoveries, with some participants learning publicly that they are not the biological fathers of children they believed were theirs,” said Michael Ncube from Bulawayo.
Statistics cited in the public discussion around DNA testing have also fuelled the debate.
Testing services linked to Mugabe’s programme have reported that around 72 percent of paternity tests conducted in Zimbabwe return negative results, meaning the presumed father is not the biological parent.
Although these figures have been widely circulated in public discourse, they have also sparked controversy.
Zimbabwe’s medical authorities have previously raised concerns about how DNA test results are communicated to the public.
The Medical Laboratory and Clinical Scientists Council of Zimbabwe warned that television personalities and private companies should not present DNA results without appropriate medical oversight.
The council said individuals involved in public DNA shows are not registered laboratory professionals and should not independently issue medical test results to clients.
At the same time, a High Court ruling later allowed Mugabe’s programme to continue operating, noting that his company was not classified as a medical institution under the law governing health professionals.
The ruling highlighted a regulatory grey area surrounding the growing DNA testing industry in Zimbabwe.
Beyond legal disputes, supporters of mandatory DNA testing argue that verifying paternity at birth could help address several social issues.
During parliamentary debate, legislators noted that children sometimes struggle with identity issues when disputes over parentage emerge later in life.
Despite support from some lawmakers, the proposal has also raised questions about cost, privacy and practicality.
DNA testing currently requires laboratory facilities and specialised equipment, which may not be available in every hospital across Zimbabwe. Some legislators suggested that government could invest in DNA testing machines for hospitals to make the process more accessible.
DNA machines can cost between US$3,000 and US$15,000, depending on specifications, suggesting that installing them nationwide could make testing more widely available.
The proposal also touches on cultural perceptions of family and trust.
Mucheche noted that historically, Zimbabwean society relied on social and customary recognition of parentage rather than scientific verification. Introducing mandatory DNA testing could change how families understand parenthood and trust within relationships.
“Universal testing could create suspicion in families where no dispute exists<” said Mucheche.
Others say the policy might stigmatise mothers or create unnecessary tension between couples.
DNA tests in Zimbabwe currently cost between US$200 and US$500, depending on the laboratory and the complexity of the test.
Globally, very few countries have adopted mandatory DNA testing at birth.
In most jurisdictions, paternity is established through legal acknowledgment by parents, with DNA tests used only when disputes arise.
Some countries have considered similar proposals in the past, but many have rejected them due to concerns about privacy and social impact.
