The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
LATE popular businessman and politician, Shadreck Beta’s son who was in a love triangle with two women is regretting dumping the mother of his child after her parents demanded US$5 000 as damages for impregnating their daughter.
The parties appeared before Acting Chief Zimunya recently.
Tatenda Beta dragged the mother of his child, Chiedza Chitsinde and her parents William and Alice Chitsinde to the community court, accusing them of denying him access to his newly born baby despite making contributions to pay the damages.
It was revealed that Tatenda opted to marry another woman when he impregnated Chiedza.
“I have not seen my child since his birth. They are saying I have to finish off paying the damages first. I asked for forgiveness for impregnating their daughter and have been paying monthly instalments of US$500 to clear the US$5 000 they want,” he said.
Tatenda said despite paying the damages, Chiedza is demanding DNA tests for the child.
“I know Chiedza wants to get back at me after I opted to marry another lady. She wants to ruin my marriage. She is also saying a DNA test is required to ascertain whether I am the baby’s biological father or not.
“Chiedza is also using unorthodox means to try rekindling our long lost love by adding my wife and in-laws into a WhatsApp group where she releases my nude pictures. After sending the nude pictures, she writes that the pictures were recently taken when she and I were at a hotel rekindling our love,” said Tatenda.
Chiedza Chitsinde
He added: “Those pictures were taken while I was still dating Chiedza long back. They were also taken while I was asleep. All along, I did not know that she had such pictures. She posts the pictures in the WhatsApp group and accuses me of cheating on my wife,” he said.
He said Chiedza used a South African registered cellphone number to create the WhatsApp group so that it would not be traced back to her.
But while Tatenda is worried about his marriage, Chiedza’s father, William, says he spent a lot of money on his daughter’s pregnancy and wants it back.
“We sent our daughter to a very expensive hospital when she gave birth. She was assisted by specialists to deliver the baby. He should pay up the damages before seeing his baby. His relatives have seen the child. He should pay us every cent of the expenses we incurred. Why should he see the child when he never contributed anything towards the delivery of the baby?” charged William.
He, however, said he would talk to his daughter to find out if indeed she was behind the WhatsApp group and nude pictures.
He said if Chiedza is the culprit, he will ask her to stop posting such pictures.
William’s wife, Alice, chipped in: “Tatenda’s wife cursed my daughter and said she would not hold that baby in her arms. She encountered problems in delivering the baby. This is why we will not let Tatenda see the child. We do not know what his visits will do to the child.”
Chiedza denied being in possession of Tatenda’s nude pictures.
She also said she had already acquired the baby’s birth certificate using her maiden name.
“Tatenda wants to control me. If I register the child’s birth certificate in his name, I will have a torrid time travelling with the child without his consent. I want to leave the country for greener pastures in future,” she said.
Acting Chief Zimunya ordered the Chitsinde family to allow Tatenda have access to his child.
“No matter what you say, he is still the child’s father. He should be allowed access to his child and acquire his birth certificate. We were all here when he knelt before you and begged for forgiveness after impregnating Chiedza.
“He is also religiously paying the damages and denying him access to his child is criminal. You are so lucky you have someone willing to contribute towards the upkeep of a child born out of wedlock. A lot of men are running away from such responsibilities,” said the traditional leader
