Baby strangled, dumped in the bush

A newborn baby in Beit Bridge was allegedly strangled by its mother before she dumped the body at a bushy area in Dulibadzimu suburb, police have confirmed.

The incident occurred last Thursday evening.

According to witnesses the baby, who was covered with thick fabric, was discovered by some children who were playing, and they then alerted elders. “I was busy preparing supper when my five-year-old son came rushing in and told me that he saw a baby dumped in a bushy area. When I went out to investigate, I saw a crowd milling around at the scene,” said Ms Juliet Moyo, a witness.

The local police spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Hosiah Mukombero, confirmed the incident, saying they were still investigating. “We are appealing to anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect to inform us,” said Chief Supt Mukombero.

He expressed concern over the increasing number of baby dumping cases in the border town, saying there was a need to embark on a massive educational campaign targeting women. Most of the suspects are women who would be intending to cross the border to South Africa illegally, but fail to make it and then resort to prostitution.

The latest incident comes hot on the heels of a similar incident in which a 27-year-old Beit Bridge woman was recently arrested for allegedly murdering her newborn baby girl before wrapping the body in a plastic bag and setting it ablaze.

News - Date: 04 March 2011

Mashudu Netsianda

Mashudu Netsianda is our correspondent in Beit Bridge, Zimbabwe. He joined us in 2006, writing both local and international stories. He had worked for several Zimbabwean publications, as well as the Times of Swaziland. Mashudu received his training at the School of Mass Communication in Harare.

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