Baby dumped in city

Liberty Dube Post Correspondent
AN infant estimated to be three days old was on Tuesday morning found dumped – but alive and kicking – in a bush near Elise Gledhill Secondary School in Sakubva by a passerby.
The baby, who looked weary possibly because of the scorching sun, was discovered by a man who called himself Pastor London Chikondora.

He said he took the baby to Red Cross personnel who then clothed it and alerted the police.
“I was just passing by near Elise Gledhill Secondary School and heard crying in a bush. I went to investigate and realised that it was an infant wrapped in a white piece of cloth.

“She was alive. I handed the baby over to Red Cross personnel, who then bathed it
and handed it over to the police. She is lucky to be alive because she was exposed to direct sun,” he said.

Deputy Manicaland provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Luxson Chananda said baby-dumping was a crime and said anyone with information leading to the arrest of the mother should contact their nearest police station.

“Exposing an infant is a jailable offence and we will not hesitate to arrest perpetrators of the offence,” he said.
Zimbabwe Red Cross Society Manicaland provincial programmes manager Mr Paddington Munjoma said people should respect the sanctity of human life.

“It is sad that we nearly lost an innocent soul because of someone’s failure to take responsibility of his or her actions. Why resort to dumping a baby?

“As a humanitarian organisation, we value the sanctity of human life, a reason our officers took it upon themselves to bathe and cloth the child.

“We also want to commend ZRP Chisamba for their swift reaction upon being alerted. They were at the scene within a few minutes of being alerted,” said Mr Munjoma.