Moffat Mungazi
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC Acid (DNA) tests are imminent for the three children of a Honde Valley man to confirm their paternity, amid allegations that his nephew may be their biological father.
This decision follows advice from Chief Mutasa to Austine Hapanga, the father of three, to undergo DNA testing to resolve the escalating family dispute. Hapanga’s nephew, Artwell Nyatoti allegedly claims to have fathered the children.
In a telephone interview on Tuesday, Hapanga said he is working to raise funds for the DNA tests for his three children, aged 15, 10 and two respectively.
“Funds permitting, I intend to have my three children undergo DNA testing to put my mind at ease. My nephew has been spreading malicious rumours that all the three children are his, despite my knowledge that they are mine. I am currently endeavouring to raise funds to cover the cost of the tests. If they were to be offered free of charge, I will be more than willing to proceed with the tests as soon as possible,” said Hapanga.
The proposed paternity tests aim to bring clarity to a case that has divided the Honde Valley community.
The tests follow a court session presided over by Chief Mutasa, where Hapanga yanked Nyatoti to the community court for allegedly having an affair with his late wife, Itai Mahodo.
Hapanga hopes that the test results will quash the rumours and restore his dignity as the children’s biological father.
The alleged affair led to Mahodo’s tragic suicide during a family funeral.
Hapanga recounted how the affair came to light: “I unexpectedly returned home during the night of the funeral and caught Nyatoti in a compromising position with my wife in our kitchen. I confiscated his clothes, and he fled naked back to the funeral. The following morning, I attempted to address the matter, but my wife had disappeared. We later found her in the bush, where she had taken poison. Overwhelmed by shame, she couldn’t face the consequences.”
The situation was further complicated by Nyatoti’s alleged claims that he fathered Hapanga’s three children.
However, Nyatoti has denied both the paternity claims and allegations of a long-term affair.
Although he admitted being caught in the act, he claimed that the relationship began on the night of the incident.
“This was our first intimate encounter,” Nyatoti testified, adding: “I regret my actions, but I did not cause her death. That was her decision, not mine.”
Chief Mutasa reprimanded Nyatoti for his actions, deeming them an abomination and disgrace to the family.
As a consequence, Nyatoti was ordered to pay five beasts as compensation to Hapanga for the loss of his wife and the shame brought upon the family.
The compensation comprised one beast for disrespecting his uncle’s family and another for desecrating the family kitchen.
“The sanctity of marriage and family values should never be taken lightly. What you did is shocking. You disrespected your uncle, disgraced the family, and tarnished our values. Now you claim the children as your own. If you truly believe they are yours, prove it with DNA tests,” said Chief Mutasa.
Following the publication of the initial story, the Muponda Dynasty Development Trust, represented by its secretary, Tendekayi Nemaunga, wrote to The Manica Post, distanced themselves from Nyatoti, while confirming the incident.
The Trust emphasized the damage caused by the initial article to the Samaringa family name and the waDowe people in general.
“For the record, Artwell’s surname is Nyatoti. The complainant in this matter is Austine Hapanga (not Constant Mapanga), and is a muDowe just as the Samaringas. Austine resides in Mutsaka (not Samaringa) Village located in Samaringa Ward 10, and his deceased wife was called Itai Mahodo (not Itayi Mahidhu).
“This total misrepresentation of facts has caused consternation and significant harm to the reputation and emotional well-being of the Samaringas specifically, and the Nyere people across the board,” reads part of the letter.
