Two women and a man from Shurugwi who allegedly connived to terminate a pregnancy were arrested and dragged before a magistrate recently.
Juliet Makarutse (62) and Fortunate Mashiwa (21) allegedly approached Mathew Moyana (25) for herbs to terminate Mashiwa’s pregnancy.
The three appeared before Shurugwi Magistrate Percy Mukumba two weeks ago facing charges of concealment of birth as defined in Section 106 of the Criminal code.
Prosecuting, Tafadzwa Guzete said Makarutse and Mashiwa approached Moyana at Chingami Compound Peakmine Farm Shurugwi and were given a traditional herb that Mashiwa used to terminate her pregnancy.
It is alleged that sometime in October, Mashiwa gave birth to a stillborn and Moyana wrapped the foetus in a baby blanket and put it in a sack, and buried it in a disused pit.
The police received a tip-off and arrested the trio. The suspects pleaded guilty to the offence and the baby was retrieved and taken for a postmortem. They were remanded in custody. | The Mirror