BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
A 17-year-old Kamativi woman in Matabeleland North allegedly dumped her baby in a toilet soon after giving birth.
The baby died while she was being taken to hospital after the teen mother sought help from a neighbour because of excessive bleeding.
“On 22/06/22 ZRP Kamativi recorded an infanticide case at Kamativi Compound where a female juvenile (17) gave birth to a baby boy and concealed the infant in a toilet cistern,” police said in a statement.
“The suspect who was constantly bleeding sought assistance from a neighbour, who took her to Kamativi Clinic where she lied that she was suffering from period pain.”
Police said the baby was discovered after the mother was discharged from the clinic.
When they returned home the neighbour heard a baby crying from the girl’s house.
“On returning home, the neighbour heard a crying baby and alerted the police,” police added.
“The infant was taken to the clinic, where the mother and the baby were later referred to St Patricks Hospital.
“However, the infant passed on along the way to the hospital.”
In another case, police in Bulawayo said they were investigating a case of infanticide in which the body of a new born baby was found at a dump site near Choppies Supermarket in Parklands last Thursday.