Sweet potato beds turned into graves as parents secretly bury children

Conrad Mupesa

 Mashonaland West Bureau

LEGISLATORS should come up with laws that protect children and allow Government officials to treat and vaccinate them even without the consent of their parents.

This was said by Mashonaland West medical director, Dr Celestino Dhege, during the Government’s provincial heads meeting held in Chinhoyi on Monday.

Dr Dhege shocked the provincial leaders with harrowing tales of some deep-rooted beliefs held by apostolic sect members who were secretly burying their children after denying them medical care.

The apostolic sect members, the provincial heads were told, then planted sweet potatoes on top of the graves to disguise them from outsiders.

Addressing the provincial heads, Dr Dhege, said there was a need for legislators to come up with laws that protected children from inconsiderate parents amid revelations that many were succumbing to measles, cholera and other diarrheal diseases.

“On a sad note, apostolic communities hide these incidents. Where we have outbreaks like cholera and measles, some apostolic members bury their children at night after denying them access to medical care.

“To conceal the horrendous act, they plant sweet potatoes on top of the graves,” said Dr Dhege. 

He added that even traditional leaders were in some cases not informed of the deaths. 

“To them, the death of a child is not as significant as we think. They believe children are like bricks, more will be moulded,” he said without divulging the number of children that died from the outbreaks.

Dr Dhege said although there was a challenge with the sect, some churches were now secretly approaching health officials to have their children vaccinated.

Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, who is also Zvimba North Legislator, Marian Chombo, said the President’s Office had engaged the church with Mutare West Legislator, Nyasha Marange, spearheading an awareness campaign.

“The President’s Office is aware of these developments and to find a lasting solution to the problem, Honourable Marange has been approached and is working to ensure that all church members embrace scientific and medical attention,” she said.