Teen dies in abortion mishap

Sukoluhle Ndlovu

A 19-year-old woman from Ndandulo Village under Chief Mkoka in Gokwe, died after allegedly drinking a concoction in a botched abortion attempt.

Marvellous Mzenda died a week after she tried to abort her five months pregnancy with the help of her 70-year-old grandmother Johana Muzito who has been on the run since the incident.

Acting Midlands Province police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende could not be drawn to comment on the matter as she was out of office.

“I can neither confirm nor deny the matter as am currently out of office,” she said.

Chief Mkoka confirmed the incident saying the now deceased bled for a week after the incident and her grandmother could not take her to hospital as she feared that her deeds would be exposed.

“Before her death, this girl bled heavily for a week and she was not taken to hospital and her condition deteriorated. She also left a note stating that she tried aborting the pregnancy because she had been impregnated by a herdboy and her family did not want him as their son-in-law.

“Before dying, she also told her friend that she terminated the pregnancy as her family did not want anything to do with her after she fell pregnant. After the letter was discovered, we haven’t seen her grandmother and we suspect that she knows something,” said Chief Mkoka.

Chief Mkoka said the grandmother was rumoured to be helping young girls with abortion in the area.

“There have been rumours that this woman has been helping young girls with abortion by giving them concoctions. I once summoned her to my court and she professed ignorance over the whole issue. It is clear now that she has been performing such unscrupulous acts in my area and this must come to an end,” said Chief Mkoka.

Chief Mkoka said the matter was reported to the police.