Online Reporter
Liberty Dube
Weekender Correspondent
A SHOCKING incident unfolded in Chipinge last week, culminating in the miraculous rescue of a newborn baby boy from a pit latrine.
The infant, named Anashe, meaning “With God” in Shona by a nurse at St Peter’s Mission Hospital in Chisumbanje, was born at a deserted homestead in Konjana Village, Chief Garahwa’s area.
The baby’s mother, Getrude Sithole, had conceived Anashe out of wedlock and was searching for the father, whose name she did not know, in Konjana Village.
She had travelled from her homestead in Manzvire Village in pursuit of the man, reportedly a villager there.
Upon arrival, she went into labour and gave birth to a male infant at a deserted homestead.
Sithole wrapped the baby in a cloth and threw him into a two-metre-deep pit latrine.
Sithole’s attempt to flee was thwarted by post-birth complications, leaving her unable to walk.
She was discovered by a local villager, Tapera Mandipanga who followed a trail of blood to the nearby latrine and found the newborn alive inside.
Police were promptly summoned, and a rescue operation was launched.
Police officers dug an underpass to access the pit latrine and successfully retrieved the infant.
Both the baby and the mother were rushed to St Peter’s Mission Hospital for emergency treatment.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, confirmed the incident and said the baby was in a stable condition.
Sithole is being charged for “exposing an infant”, as defined in Section 108 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23), due to her intentional abandonment of the infant in the pit latrine.
“The accused person is a psychiatric patient who stays with her parents in Manzvire Village, Chief Musikavanhu, Chipinge. She became pregnant, but could not identify the person who impregnated her and she only know that the man hails from Konjana Village. Sithole went to Konjana Village, with her two-year-old daughter in search of the man who impregnated her.
“Upon arrival in Konjana, she experienced labour pains, gave birth to a male infant at a deserted home, wrapped the baby with a cloth and threw him into a two-metre-deep pit latrine. As she attempted to leave the scene with her two-year-old daughter on her back, she became incapacitated by pain and bleeding, making it impossible for her to walk further. She was discovered by Tapera Mandipanga (52), who noticed her distress and questioned her.
“Following a visible blood trail, the informant investigated the nearby toilet and discovered the infant within. He immediately reported the incident to the police,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
Police officers responded quickly and successfully retrieved the infant by digging an underpass into the toilet.
