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Lovemore Meya Court Reporter
A Lupane University lecturer yesterday stunned the court when he refused to pay for the upkeep of two minor children arguing that he was not their father.
Zephania Moyo was taken to court by his former girlfriend, Pauline Ndandarika, who is demanding US$250 for the upkeep of their two children aged 10 and 12.

However, Moyo said he had nothing to offer, telling Chitungwiza Civil Court magistrate Ms Marehwanazvo Gofa that he was not the father.

“I am employed as a lecturer at Lupane University earning US$1 000. Your Worship, I am not in a position to pay anything since these children are not mine,” he said.

This was after Ndandarika told the court that she wanted him to look after his children.

“He is employed and earns US$700. I want him to pay US$250 as maintenance for our two children. Respondent (Moyo) and I were in a relationship since 2001 when I first met him as a student at the University of Zimbabwe,” she said.

This did not go down well with Moyo, who argued that they were never involved in a sexual relationship.

“If this honourable court could ask her when we were in a relationship and when we met if we did something. I did not father the children because we only met in 2012,” said Moyo.

Moyo insisted that he was not going to pay anything, leading Ms Gofa to interject.

“I am telling you the position of the law and you are still saying you do not want to pay anything,” said Ms Gofa.

As a result, Ms Gofa ruled that Moyo pay an interim maintenance in the sum of US$150 for the two children pending paternity tests to be conducted on January 29 next year.