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Lovemore Meya Harare Bureau
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 $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 Marehwanazvo Gofa that he was not the father.

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

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

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

This did not go down well with Moyo who argued that they were never involved 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 didn’t father the children because we only met in 2012,” said Moyo.

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

“I’m telling you the position of the law and you’re still saying you don’t want to pay anything,” said Gofa.

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