BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
A nine-year-old Tsholotsho girl who recently gave birth was impregnated by her 13-year-old cousin, Deoxyribonucleic acid tests (DNA) paternity results have proven.
Zimbabwe Republic Police in a statement on Saturday said the DNA test was conducted by the National University of Science and Technology (NUST).
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) results obtained from University of Science and Technology on 25 November 2022, in connection with the paternity of the 9-year-old girl’s child have established that the victim’s cousin brother (13) is the father of the child,” police said in a statement.
The girl from Chief Gampu’s jurisdiction conceived when she was eight years old.
The shocking incident led to the arrest of the girl’s biological father on August 29 to assist police with investigations, but, however, following the minor’s failure to divulge the name of the person who raped her, the state resorted to using DNA tests to see if the accused was indeed the father of the baby.
The nine-year-old gave birth to a girl November 14 through a C-section after a team of specialists performed the surgery.
According to her mother, she started menstruating aged seven, and when her stomach started bulging, the mother sought medical treatment, but later it was discovered that she was seven months pregnant.
The police said the two will be counselled by the police’s Victim Friendly Unit.
“The nine-year-old complainant and the suspect will now receive the appropriate counseling from the Police’s Victim Friendly Unit (VFU), “police said.
” The Police is now working with other relevant arms of the government to ensure that the due processes of the law are followed. “
NUST Applied Genetic Testing Center offered to do the testing for free as part of giving back to the society.