Zimbabwe Legislator to Move Motion in Parliament to Make DNA Testing Mandatory at Birth

Honourable Bridget Nyandoro addressing a GBV symposium in Harare where she announced plans to push for mandatory DNA testing at birth in Parliament

By Michael Gwarisa As calls for mandatory DNA testing grow louder, Southerton Constituency Legislator Honourable Bridget Nyandoro has indicated she will soon move a motion in Parliament to make DNA testing compulsory for all children at birth. Her proposal comes amid rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide linked to paternity disputes, as more cases of negative paternity results continue to surface. Speaking during an Action Indaba on GBV symposium in Harare, Hon. Nyandoro said, “I am going to move a motion in Parliament to have mandatory DNA testing…

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Women Frustrated by Delays in Identifying Rapist of Grade 7 Pupil at Rank

By Michael Gwarisa  Women’s organisations have expressed frustration over the failure to identify and bring to justice the tout reportedly responsible for raping a minor in a parked commuter omnibus at the Rezende bus rank. To voice their concerns, members of the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) converged on Friday at a Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Outreach Activity at the Ruzende Parkade Rank. The event, attended by women of all ages, was aimed at showing solidarity with the affected child and other women and girls who have suffered abuse at…

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Child protection and access to safe abortion

By Memory Pamella Kadau In the past few weeks, two unrelated developments have captured media attention and triggered thoughts about safe abortion and child protection. The first development was the lawsuit filed by Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA), challenging the validity of some sections of the Termination of Pregnancy (ToP) Act. The second case was the raid and arrest of a cult which operated on a farm in Nyabira, some 30 kilometres west of Harare. Some 251 minors stayed at the farm where they were denied access to…

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