BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-A revelation that about 80 percent of men undergoing DNA paternity tests in Malawi after suspecting infidelity are found not to be the biological fathers of the children they have been raising has sent shockwaves through families and sparked concerns over paternity fraud.
The findings, reported by biotechnology scientist Kingdom Kwapata and Attestation Background Checks and DNA Limited Malawi, show a growing demand for paternity testing, with some men seeking certainty over their children’s biological identity amid suspicions of infidelity.
The issue is increasingly becoming a source of emotional distress and legal disputes involving child custody, maintenance, inheritance and parental responsibility.
Lilongwe-based businessperson Ibrahim Swed is among men who have undergone testing to settle long-standing doubts.
He had DNA tests in 2022, which confirmed that some of the children he had been told were his were not biologically related to him.
“I have very little trust in women now,” said Swed, encouraging other men with doubts to seek DNA testing rather than continue living with uncertainty.
Another Blantyre resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, sought a DNA test after the pregnancy timeline of his girlfriend did not match the period they had been together.
He said he was prepared to take responsibility if the test confirmed he was the biological father.
He also said he later underwent testing after a divorce to establish the biological identity of his children and ensure his assets and inheritance would go to his biological offspring.
Mary, a mother from Zomba, said her boyfriend denied fathering their child until a DNA test proved that he was the biological father.
“He denied the child was his, so I chose proof over argument,” she said.
Kwapata, a genetics scientist at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), told Nation Publications Limited (NPL) that many men are prompted to seek testing after discovering suspected infidelity through mobile phones and social media.
He said he handles more than 30 paternity cases a month, with negative results reportedly hovering around 80 percent in cases linked to suspected infidelity.
However, he said court-referred cases involving men accused of avoiding child maintenance produce a different outcome, with about 90 percent proving to be the biological fathers.
On the same,Attestation Background Checks and DNA Limited Malawi Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Phillip Mwanza said his clinics in Blantyre and Lilongwe receive about 20 clients a month and have recorded a similar non-paternity rate of around 80 percent.
He said DNA testing is increasingly becoming part of divorce proceedings, as men seek to protect their estates and avoid spending large sums on children who may not be biologically theirs.
Mwanza said tests at his facilities cost between K600 000 and K1 million, with results available within 10 days, while the company is also partnering with police to provide free DNA testing for rape and sexual assault survivors to support criminal investigations.
The paternity revelations come amid concerns over infidelity and rising divorce cases in the country.
Judiciary spokesperson Ruth Mputeni confirmed an increase in divorce cases, although official figures are still being compiled from registries nationwide.
She said historical court data shows that 90 percent of divorces involve couples aged between 20 and 35, with filings increasing from 1 170 in 2020 to 2 504 in 2022.
Public Affairs Committee (PAC) spokesperson Bishop Gilford Matonga described the situation as a sign of moral decline, infidelity and economic pressures on marriages, calling for religious institutions to strengthen efforts to promote family values and stable marriages.
