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Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Correspondent
A 34-YEAR-OLD Sakubva woman was sentenced to six months imprisonment after being convicted of concealing birth.
Lydia Muguta was facing concealment of birth charges as defined in Section 106 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 09.23, when she appeared before Mutare magistrate, Miss Prisca Tendai Manhibi.
Ms Tafadzwa Chiwanza represented the State.
She stated that on October 1, a police officer, Clever Taruona, received an anonymous call stating that Muguta had had a still birth and hid the foetus in her room.
Taruona proceeded to the Muguta’s residence and interviewed her.
She vehemently denied ever being pregnant, thereby prompting Taruona to question the former’s aunt, Tendai Dengenyera.
He asked to search the house and was given permission.
A still-born baby wrapped in a sleeping bag was found under the bed and that is when Muguta admitted that she had given birth. She was immediately arrested and the foetus was taken to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital for post mortem.
In mitigation, Muguta said she did not know how to dispose of the still-born baby, hence her decision to hide it under the bed.
“I stay in a single room, so I had to put the foetus in the bag as l waited for my in-laws’ arrival. I think I suffered a miscarriage. I feared burying the child without the involvement of my husband’s family,” she said.
Miss Manhibi treated Muguta as a first time offender and suspended a month of the sentence for five years on condition of good behaviour.
The remaining five months were suspended on condition that she performs community service at Chisamba Police Station.
Online Reporter