The ManicaPost
Post Correspondent
A PREGNANT Makoni teenager is at odds with her mother whom she is accusing of forcibly giving her abortion concoctions and pills, as well as starving her with the intention of killing her unborn baby to death.
The 15-year-old Ruth Moyo (not real name) of Chinhenga Village has since fled from her parents’ home, and is staying with her paternal grandparents.
She left shortly after the man who impregnated her, Tinotenda Makombe (24) was arrested on allegations of sleeping with a minor.
He awaits appearing at Mayo Circuit Court later this month.
The mother, Prudence Musekiwa, however, is adamant that her child was trying to get back at her after she made a police report resulting in Makombe’s arrest.
She denied ever abusing her daughter.
She accused her daughter of promiscuity which she reportedly started when she was 12.
“This is not the first time this child has acted in this manner. When she was 12 she was caught in bed with a man. When I sued the man, her aunties rebuked me saying I should not have done. The aunties argued that I should have married my daughter to that man, but I refused.
“Right now they have taken my child, and want to take her to her new lover because he impregnated her. The aunties want my daughter to turn against me, but how can she be married at such a young age. I want my child back,” bitterly complained Ms Musekiwa.
She, however, confirmed that she was giving the child unidentified pills which she claimed were meant to cleanse the child’s system.
“Those pills are meant to cleanse her system, and I need her to keep taking them because the nurse who gave me the tablets said they will protect her from sexually transmitted infections,” she said.
However, neighbours shot down Ms Musekiwa’s claims, saying she abuses her daughter and wanted to terminate her pregnancy which was being kept as a secret.
“The child was not allowed to leave the house, and was not being given any food. The mother would boast about it to her church-mates, and they are the ones whose gave her the abortion pills. What system needs to be cleansed when someone is pregnant? We are all glad that the child is safe at her grandparents’ place,” said a neighbour who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The social worker who is dealing with the matter, Ms Nyararai Bodzo said the child told her that she was being abused at home by her mother when she approached her after fleeing from home.
“She wanted help, and told me that her mother was starving her with the intention of killing the unborn baby. She also claimed that her mother was forcibly giving her concoctions and abortion pills. I advised her to seek refuge at her grandparents’ place, while investigations into the matter continues.”
Ms Bodzo said the matter was complex as neighbours know the truth, but are afraid to open up.
Ms Musekiwa’s mother-in-law, Mrs Charity Goto said she would not release the child until she gets the nod to do so from law enforcement agents.
“We do not want to marry off the child. Why would we do that? All we want is my granddaughter and her unborn baby’s safety. They cannot be safe with Musekiwa. She has been abusing her since she caught her in bed with a man when she was only 12. What she really needs to know is that her daughter was not at fault as she was young, and according to the law, she was forced into the act,” she said.
Police in Mayo are seized with the matter, and said investigations were in progress.
