By Pamela Shumba
A BULAWAYO woman on Friday grabbed her ex-boyfriend by the collar and hurled insults at him in the presence of court officials and witnesses protesting his demand for a paternity test for their seven-year-old child.
Court officials and witnesses were treated to free drama when the woman went ballistic and banged doors as she shouted at the top of her voice.
Sarah Sibanda had dragged her ex-lover Wellington Tshuma, a Zesa foreman, to court after he defaulted paying her $80 maintenance last month.
Tshuma told the court he had always doubted he was the father of the child despite paying maintenance for the toddler since November last year. This did not go down well with Sibanda who charged at Tshuma in anger.
“Stupid old man you go around impregnating women and start demanding DNA tests. I will fix you,” blasted Sibanda. “My child has nothing to do with DNA tests. All I want is money for my child to be fed.”
She banged doors, hurled insults at the clerks of court and grabbed Tshuma by the collar, nearly choking him.
The scene drew the attention of scores of court officials and members of the public at Tredgold Building as Sibanda shouted at the clerks accusing them of conniving with Tshuma.
Tshuma said Sibanda refused to produce her identity card and the child’s birth certificate or health card to facilitate the paternity test in South Africa.
Sibanda felt the whole process was a conspiracy against her meant to deprive her of the money.
It is alleged since November last year Sibanda has been refusing to open a bank account where Tshuma would deposit the maintenance money for the child.
Court papers indicate that Tshuma was arrested after he defaulted paying maintenance last month and the couple came to court to explain the dispute.
However, the presiding magistrate Victor Mpofu was not around and the clerks advised the couple to wait for him.
Surprisingly, Tshuma claimed he did not sleep with Sibanda and alleged she tricked him while he was drunk.
He said he used to drink with Sibanda, who took advantage of their friendship and claimed he had impregnated her. The Chronicle
