Chronicle Editor
Peter Matika – [email protected]
A 34-YEAR-OLD woman from Tsholotsho has been sentenced to an effective 10 months in prison for concealing her pregnancy and dumping her prematurely born baby in a pit latrine.
The woman was charged with contravening Section 106 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act) Chapter 9:23.
According to a statement from the National Prosecution Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the incident took place in the early hours of 4 October when the woman gave birth to a baby girl and subsequently discarded her in the pit latrine.
The woman, who had concealed her pregnancy since March 2024, experienced severe bleeding following the birth until a witness discovered her in the toilet.
“The accused person revealed the matter to the witness. The body of the baby was retrieved from the toilet pit. A post-mortem was conducted and revealed that the baby had died from severe prematurity,” stated the NPAZ document.
In light of the tragic event, authorities urged individuals to seek assistance and support when facing unplanned pregnancies to ensure the well-being and safety of both the mother and the newborn child.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter