Teen maid suffocates newborn

Whinsley Masara Chronicle Reporter
A TEENAGE maid has been arrested for allegedly suffocating her new-born baby before hiding the body in a suitcase. Privilege Moyo, 19, from Skente Village under Chief Gambu in Tsholotsho, allegedly killed her new-born son on Friday soon after giving birth in her bedroom at her employers’ home.

Moyo’s mother, Siphiweyinkosi Ncube, told The Chronicle that her daughter cut the umbilical cord with a knife and suffocated the baby before hiding the body in a suitcase.

Privilege was arrested on Saturday afternoon after her mother called in the police.

“Privilege was working as a maid at a homestead in our area and her employers are based in South Africa. I was well aware of her pregnancy and we had agreed she was working for her child,” said Ncube. “She called me on Saturday morning telling me that she wasn’t feeling well. When I went to check on her at around 1PM, I noticed the pregnancy had disappeared. It wasn’t yet the time she had told me she would be due.”

She said after she interrogated her daughter, she discovered that she had given birth the previous night at around 10PM.

“She said she killed the baby because the father had refused to be responsible and she was poor and was left with no option,” she added.

Edward Sibanda, a neighbour, said the incident shows that the girl was not yet prepared for motherhood.

“Being pregnant by an irresponsible man doesn’t warrant killing your child. Since she was working, there was no reason to kill,” said Sibanda.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Siphiwe Makonese said Moyo would appear in court soon.