Ndola Father Denies Child Despite Resemblance

By NANCY SIAME
A Ndola man caused laughter in court when he insisted that he is not the father of his lover’s child despite the baby being shown to the court with features that resembled him.
Benson Phiri, 22, told principal presiding magistrate Sara Bwalya, sitting with senior local court magistrate Kaala Nyambe and Dismas Katambi that he could not be the father of 20-year-old Miriam Kalunga’s child because he has never slept with her.
Kalunga’s mother Dainess Kalunga sued Phiri for damage and was demanding compensation.
Phiri told the court that he cannot take responsibility for the baby and also pay for damage because it is not his.
“I knew her when I was working for her parents and she was my girlfriend but we never had sex,” Phiri said.
He told the court that he had intentions of making Kalunga his wife, but he did not like her behaviour and decided to end the relationship.
But when Kalunga was asked by the court if she had ever had sex with Phiri, she agreed and said they had sex twice.
“Your Honour, Phiri and I were lovers and we had sex twice before I got pregnant with my three-month old baby,” Kalunga said.
But Phiri insisted that the child was not his dispite Kalunga showing the baby to the court, which has similar features as that of Phiri.
Phiri’s persistent refusal of the child angered the court who asked him to produce a K3,000 so that the two could go for DNA test to ascertain the paternity of the child.
Magistrate Bwalya warned Phiri that if the child is found to be his, the court will severely punish the defendant.
Phiri said he is not in a position to raise that kind of money and the court ordered he be fined for damage.
Magistrate Bwalya ordered Phiri to pay K5,000 with K1,000 as a first installment and thereafter K300 until he finishes paying.
“But you can still go for a DNA test and if you find that the child is not yours, the money will be given back to you,” Magistrate Bwalya said.
She also ordered Phiri to be supporting the child financially.