LUSAKA – The National Forensic Science and Biometrics Department recorded 230 DNA testing requests between January and June 2026, including 59 paternity tests, according to official statistics.
Acting State Forensic Analyst Innocent Makasa said the requests also included two maternity cases, two kinship disputes, and 14 human identification cases referred by the forensic pathology unit.
Dr. Makasa explained that all 59 paternity tests were conducted solely at the request of the courts.
He said when courts handle cases involving disputed paternity, they refer the matter to the department for DNA analysis, with results typically returned within 21 days to support legal proceedings.
Dr. Makasa emphasized that the department does not accept DNA testing requests directly from members of the public, as such requests must come through judicial authorities.
Responding to concerns that DNA testing can disrupt families, he said many cases have instead confirmed paternity and helped preserve marriages.
Regarding the maternity cases, Dr. Makasa said one involved a woman disputing the identity of a deceased child, while the other concerned a child allegedly stolen in Kafue and later recovered.
He added that kinship disputes commonly arise during inheritance cases where families contest a child's relationship to a deceased person.
Of the 230 cases received, 63 have been completed, comprising 41 paternity cases, two maternity cases, three kinship cases, one human identification case, and 16 criminal investigations.
Dr. Makasa said 76 criminal cases remain incomplete because police have yet to provide reference samples from suspects, which are required for DNA comparison.
Another 91 cases are still awaiting analysis, including 18 paternity cases, one kinship case, 13 human identification cases, and 59 criminal cases.
He noted that forensic samples are securely stored in a database where suspects are unknown, allowing investigators to compare them with future reference samples when they become available.
Looking ahead, Dr. Makasa revealed that the department plans to establish a forensic toxicology laboratory next year to investigate poisoning and drug-related deaths, as well as a physics pattern and impression unit to strengthen document and firearm examinations.