27/01/2026
SHOULD DNA BE MADE FREE AND MANDATORY AT BIRTH IN ZAMBIA?
Women in Zambia are up in arms over the government's proposal to make DNA testing free, with the Women Empowerment Agency (WEA) warning President Hakainde Hichilema that this move could cost him the 2026 election. The WEA's Director, Martha Tembo, argues that free DNA testing would destabilize marriages, leave children fatherless, and trigger widespread backlash against the government ¹ ² ³.
The controversy centers around the concern that easy access to DNA testing would expose infidelity, leading to increased divorce rates and social unrest. Tembo claims that about 40% of married women in Zambia have engaged in extramarital affairs, and making DNA tests free would be like "opening Pandora's box" ² ⁴.
The WEA is advocating for Zambia to adopt Tanzania's approach, where a legally married man is automatically recognized as the father of all children born within the marriage, regardless of biological paternity. This, they believe, would preserve family unity and social stability .
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