A 26-year-old man who was recently arrested after his underage wife died during childbirth was charged with her murder on Friday after appearing before a court in Mutare, ZimLive reported.
Prosecutors said Hatirarami Momberume of Taguta Farm in Kwekwe “had a legal duty as the alleged husband to ensure that such a young child was taken to special health facilities to deliver, realising that there was a real risk or possibility that his conduct by omission might cause the death of Anna Machaya during or after the delivery of the baby.”
Instead of taking his child bride to a hospital, Momberume allegedly took Anna to Johanne Marange traditional midwives where she delivered and died after some labour complications.
Anna, who got pregnant at the age of 14, died on 15 July this year while delivering her baby at a church shrine in Marange.
The two “midwives” who delivered the baby boy were named in court as Babra Hodzi and Enia Mukono.
Momberume faces a second charge of “having sexual intercourse or performing indecent acts with a young person” which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Magistrate Lucy Mungwaru remanded Momberume in custody to 3 September.
Tirivanhu Mutyasiri appeared for the National Prosecuting Authority.