daniel chigunwe
Zvikomborero Parafini
MORE details surrounding the premature birth of a baby, who was sold for US$180, emerged yesterday when the midwife who induced the birth at seven months appeared in court.
The midwife, Betty Patricia Sena, who is attached to Sally Mugabe Hospital, appeared before Harare magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa.
She was charged with human trafficking and was remanded in custody until next Tuesday.
The court heard that between February and March, Sena and her accomplices — Evelyn Zisengwe, Dion Tore and the teenage mother’s child, connived to traffic the child, who is now nine-months-old.
Sena induced the teenager, who was seven months pregnant at the time, so that she could prematurely deliver her child. The girl delivered her baby girl and Sena handed the child over to Tore
On February 25 this year, at Sally Mugabe Hospital, the documents were falsified to appear as if Tore was the one who had given birth.
It is the State’s case that Sena then abused her supervisory position to facilitate the unsafe discharge of the premature infant from the hospital.
Sena was paid US$20 for her services. She created a fake death record purporting that the child, which the teenage girl had delivered, had passed away.
Sena was implicated by Tore and the teenage mother.
Tore and Zisengwe appeared before the same court and filed their bail bid.
Zisengwe pleaded with magistrate Gofa to release her because she has a brain condition that causes her to frequently collapse. She further told the court she denies the allegations and said she didn’t have an intention to sell the child as alleged.
“I don’t agree with the allegations because I didn’t have the intention to sell the child, I only told my daughter not to abort her pregnancy but rather keep it and give it to someone who was struggling to have a child.
“She recently aborted another pregnancy prior to our arrest, that’s how she is,” she said.
They are expected back in court today for their bail ruling.
The teenage mother was taken into the custody of Social Welfare Services.
Online Reporter