adminWalter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
A 28-YEAR-OLD Masvingo woman will perform 350 hours of community service for throwing her new-born baby in Mucheke River. Memory Machingambi of Target Kopje suburb was convicted on her own plea by Masvingo magistrate Sibonginkosi Mkandla. She was sentenced to 24 months in prison but 14 months were suspended on condition that she is not within the next five years convicted of a similar offence. The remaining 10 months were suspended on condition she performs 350 hours of community service.
Machingambi pleaded for leniency saying the excruciating pains she suffered during delivery made her lose conscience.
“My worship I am pleading for leniency because when I dumped my baby I was not in my normal senses due to the severe pain I went through during labour. I could have dumped the baby by mistake,” she said.
Prosecuting, Fidelicy Nyamukondiwa said on May 22 around midnight Machingambi went into labour.
“She woke up and walked towards town where upon reaching Craft Centre near Mucheke River, her condition worsened. She moved away from the road and delivered a baby girl and threw it into the river a few metres away from the old bridge,” said Nyamukondiwa.
He said after committing the crime she went back to her lodgings in Target Kopje but three days later she disappeared. Nyamukondiwa said the floating baby’s body was discovered the following day by people who were going to work at around 7AM.
Machingambi was arrested at her rural home in Bikita.
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter