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Tsenulo Moyo
A friend is a man’s greatest bosom. In this case a secret shared was not kept when the friend turned from confidante to whistleblower tipping the police about her friend’s heinous actions.
An 18-year-old woman from Pumula South suburb in Bulawayo was arrested for terminating her five months pregnancy using abortion pills and burying the foetus after her friend whom she confided with the secret told the police.
Celine Ngwenya appeared in Western Commonage court before magistrate Learnear Khumalo facing a charge of unlawful termination of pregnancy. She pleaded guilty to the offence.
Ngwenya was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment of which three months are suspended for five years on condition that the accused person does not commit any offence involving unlawful termination of pregnancy within that period for which if convicted accused person is sentenced to a term of imprisonment without the option of a fine.
The remaining six months imprisonment were suspended on condition the accused person completes 210 hours of community service at Zimbabwe Republic Police Post at Barbourfields.
While passing the sentence, the magistrate took into consideration that Ngwenya is a first offender, and the alleged father of the pregnancy had rejected it.
Circumstances are that Ngwenya inserted three abortion pills in her vagina and swallowed the fourth pill on 2 November 2024.
The foetus came out as a still birth on the same day around 2100 hours.
Ngwenya is said to have spent the night with the foetus, wrapped it with a plastic bag and went to bury it the following day around 1700 hours.
Ngwenya dug a shallow grave along a stream between stream Makoni and some shops in Nkulumane and buried the foetus.
Accused person’s friend tipped the police and the scene was attended, foetus was recovered and was taken to Mpilo Hospital for post mortem. The matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of the accused person.
Online Reporter