Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau
A newly born baby narrowly escaped death after being abandoned in a toilet pit at Banga Clinic in Shurugwi, only to be saved when a patient heard its cries.
The 20-year-old mother, Tamia Malume from Majide Village, appeared before Shurugwi resident magistrate Ms Sithabile Zungula, where she pleaded guilty to baby dumping and was sentenced to 630 hours of unpaid work at the clinic.
Ms Zungula said Malume deserved a non-custodial sentence since she was a first offender.
In mitigation, Malume said this was her first pregnancy and she was not married.
“I committed the crime because my dream of becoming a soldier was shattered when I accidentally became pregnant. When I got pregnant, the man responsible deserted me. I was left with no option since I was not employed and was ready to go for training as a soldier,” she said.
It was the state’s case that on March 11, Malume, who was not feeling well, was carried to the clinic by her grandmother.
The court heard that Malume, who was complaining of diarrhoea, visited the toilet at the clinic twice.
“When she returned for the last time, the nurse in charge realised that she had blood stains on her legs and asked her what was happening,” said the prosecutor, Mrs Tafadzwa Guzete.
She said Malume lied that her menstrual cycle had started before she was placed on an IV infusion drip and was given a painkiller and put on bed rest.
“After about 30 minutes, a patient coming from the toilet informed the clinic staff that there was a baby crying from the toilet pit,” she said.
Mrs Guzete said a bouncing baby girl covered in maggots was retrieved from the pit.
“It was then discovered that the accused was the mother of the child, as part of the placenta was still attached to her. The baby was reunited with its mother, leading to her arrest,” she said.
