The ManicaPost
Tanyaradzwa Nyahoda
Weekender Reporter
A MUTARE woman was recently dragged to court facing charges of concealment of birth as defined in Section 106 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 09.23.
Lydia Muguta (34) of Devonshire in Sakubva appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms Prisca Manhibi, while Ms Tafadzwa Chiwanza prosecuted.
Mr Clever Taruona (38) of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage represented the State.
The court heard that on October 1, Taruona received any anonymous call, informing him that Muguta had given birth to a child, and hid it in her room.
Taruona proceeded to the accused’s residence where he interviewed her about giving birth and concealing it.
She denied ever being pregnant.
“Taruona asked Muguta’s aunt, Ms Tendai Dengenyera to search the accused’s house, and she discovered a stillborn baby partially wrapped in a sleeping bag placed under the bed,” said Ms Chiwanza.
Cornered, Muguta admitted to having given birth.
She was immediately arrested.
The foetus was taken to Mutare Provincial Hospital for post mortem.
Muguta said she did not know how to dispose of the stillborn baby, reason she acted the way she did.
“I stay in a single room, so I had to put the foetus in the bag while waiting for my in-laws’ arrival. I think I suffered a miscarriage,” she said.
Muguta was remanded out of custody to November 16.
