A 23-YEAR-OLD man of Main Masala has told the Kabushi Local Court that he cannot accept responsibility for his ex-girlfriend’s baby because she never personally told him that she was pregnant.

Rafael Mwamba told the court that he only learnt about the pregnancy and the child’s birth through rumours from neighbours and friends, insisting that the baby was not his.

However, his 19-year-old ex-girlfriend, Emmanuella Mulumbi, disputed his claims, saying she had informed him about the pregnancy but he denied responsibility.

The matter came before Magistrates John Kabwe, Emelda Masuma and Paul Kayula after Mulumbi sued Mwamba for child support, accusing him of failing to provide for their baby since birth.

In his testimony, Mwamba insisted that he could not accept responsibility for a child whose existence he had only learnt about from other people.

“Yes, I have denied and neglected the baby because I do not know about it. I heard from people that there is a child, but she never told me directly from her mouth. This is not my child. I am not the father because I was not informed. No one called me to say that she was pregnant. I just heard from people in the compound that she had given birth. How can I accept a child that I was never told about?” asked Mwamba.

His elder brother, Bernard Mwamba, supported him, telling the court that the family was surprised to learn about the pregnancy just a week before Mulumbi gave birth.

Bernard said the family was not convinced that his younger brother was the child’s father because no one had formally informed them about the pregnancy, as required by their tradition.

“We are very surprised as a family. Why didn’t they call my brother when the girl was pregnant? We only learnt about the pregnancy a week before the girl gave birth. We are not convinced that this baby is my brother’s child. No elder was sent to inform us. As per our tradition, when a girl is pregnant, you inform the man. That did not happen. Right now, we are ready for a DNA test. We have put everything in place. We have even found money for the test,” said Bernard.

But Mulumbi accused Mwamba of lying, insisting that he knew about the pregnancy and had previously been taken to the same court over the matter.

“I told him about the pregnancy, but he denied it. Even at court, we sued him for damages at this same court, but he only paid once and stopped. Even after the baby was born, I called him, but he refused to come and see the baby. And now I am writing my final exams next week, and I need money to buy milk for the baby because I will be leaving him at home. I am in Grade 12. My final exams are next week. So I am requesting the court to help me ask him for money so that he can buy me milk for the baby,” she said.

She further told the court that Mwamba had never bought anything for the baby.

“Since the child was born, he has never supported him. He has never bought even a pack of diapers. It is my mum who bought the clothes for the baby. My mother is the one taking care of us,” said Mulumbi.

Delivering judgment, Magistrate Kabwe criticised Mwamba for denying the child, saying children were innocent and deserved care even when their parents had disagreements.

The magistrate ordered Mwamba to pay K500 monthly towards the child’s upkeep while awaiting DNA test results.

“A child is a blessing from God, and why are you denying your boy? This child will keep you in future. He is innocent. He didn’t write an application for him to be born. You were enjoying and now there is a child you want to deny. You will be giving the child K500 every month for child support for now. Since you are ready to do a DNA test, you can go ahead, and if you find that the child is not yours, Emmanuella will give you back all the money you will spend on the baby. And since she is going to be writing her exams next week, give her money this week so that she can buy formula for the baby. Go and buy formula and milk this week before her exams start,” said Magistrate Kabwe.