The State has applied for an order to terminate the pregnancy of a schoolgirl who was repeatedly raped and impregnated by her father in Harare.
As reported by <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/state-applies-for-the-termination-of-teenage-schoolgirls-pregnancy-girl-16-was-repeatedly-raped-by-her-father/">H-Metro</a>, the father repeatedly raped his 16-year-old daughter, and now the State wants to terminate her pregnancy.
The pregnancy was discovered after the girl returned to her boarding school last month.
The father appeared in court on Thursday and has been kept in custody.
The court heard that in October 2024, he took his daughter from her mother’s house outside Harare, pretending she would stay with her aunt. Instead, he kept her at his workplace in Waterfalls.
In November, he entered her bedroom and raped her multiple times until she told her brother, who confronted the father.
The father threatened to kill her if she told anyone else.
The truth came out when the girl returned to school for the new term and fell sick. She was taken to Mutero Hospital, where it was discovered she was pregnant.
The Termination of Pregnancy Act allows the termination of pregnancy a pregnancy if it endangers the woman’s life, poses a risk of permanent harm, or if the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest with a court order.
The termination must be approved by two doctors and the medical superintendent of a designated hospital.

Pindula News

The State wants a court order to end the pregnancy of a 16-year-old girl who was raped by her father. The father took her from her mother's house and raped her at his workplace, threatening to kill her if she told anyone. The girl fell sick at school and was found pregnant when taken to the hospital. The law allows termination of pregnancy if it endangers the girl's life, causes harm, or is a result of rape with a court order. Two doctors and a hospital superintendent must approve the termination.

State Seeks Court Order To Terminate Pregnancy Of Schoolgirl (16) Raped By Her Father

In 2023, more than 4,500 learners in Zimbabwe dropped out of school due to pregnancy, including at least 150 in primary school.
These alarming statistics were disclosed by Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Edgar Moyo during a parliamentary session on Wednesday, in response to questions from lawmakers.
In reply to Mashonaland West Proportional Representative MP Mutsa Murombedzi, who inquired about the government’s initiatives to address school dropouts, Minister Moyo said:
<blockquote>
The ministry collects and collates such data on an annual basis and it is recorded in our Education Management Information System report shared with all stakeholders.
Therefore, for the year ending December 2023, 4 557 girls dropped out of school due to pregnancy, the majority of these (3 942) being from rural schools.
134 girls dropped out of primary school as a result of pregnancy, meaning that the majority of dropouts were recorded in secondary schools.
</blockquote>
Minister Moyo said the Ministry has introduced several measures such as career guidance and counselling to arrest the scourge of school dropouts, especially among pregnant girls. He said:
<blockquote>
Through the Education Act, the ministry has also ensured that legal provisions are there to enable girls who fall pregnant to continue with their education.
</blockquote>
The Minister also said several measures have been instituted to protect girls from stigma when they return to school after giving birth. He said:
<blockquote>
On the issue of stigma, we have done a lot of awareness campaigns and also, we have done a lot of dissemination of information in encouraging all the girls who fall pregnant.
It is now their right to education, so they are supposed to go back to school. I do not think we have any challenges for students who have not been — perhaps (they) have received a lot of criticism from their peers for going back to school. So, precisely, quite a number of students have been accepted back and have gone back to school.
</blockquote>
Minister Moyo said according to the Education Amendment Act of 2020, girls should not drop out of school for the reason that they are pregnant. He said:
<blockquote>
After giving a normal birth, the girl is allowed back to school and that is according to the Constitution. So, we encourage those technical and vocational skills to be equipped for all students regardless of whether one has dropped out or not.
We carry out some fairs with our partners, where we see that provinces encourage girls who might have dropped out to go back to school.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

In 2023, more than 4,500 schoolchildren in Zimbabwe left school because they got pregnant, and 150 of them were in primary school. The Education Minister shared this information in a meeting with lawmakers. The government is trying to help pregnant girls stay in school by offering counseling and support. A new law says that girls should not stop going to school just because they are pregnant. The government is also working to stop teasing and make it easier for pregnant girls to return to school after having a baby.

Over 4,500 Zimbabwean Schoolchildren Fell Pregnant In 2023

The Government has reiterated its stance that pregnant girls should be allowed to continue with their education. 
In a statement on Monday 08 May, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education also said learners should not be denied education because of the non-payment of school fees by their parents or guardians. Said the Ministry:
<blockquote>
Every child has a right to an education. As schools open today policy says…
No child shall be turned away from school for non-payment of fees.
Fees payment is to be made in a currency of one’s choice at the official exchange rate.
Pregnant girls must be allowed to continue with their education.
</blockquote>
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has issued guidelines that provide for the re-entry of pregnant girls into school after delivery.
The guidelines state that pregnant girls who drop out of school due to their pregnancy should be allowed to resume their studies at a suitable time after giving birth.
Schools are required to provide support to these girls, including counseling services, flexible academic programmess, and access to health care services.
The policy also prohibits schools from subjecting pregnant girls to any form of discrimination, harassment, or stigmatisation.
The policy also states that denying them access to education can lead to serious consequences, such as perpetuating the cycle of poverty, limiting their future opportunities, and increasing their vulnerability to early marriage, sexual exploitation, and other forms of abuse.
However, some traditionalists argue that allowing pregnant girls to return to school after delivery “encourages” girls to indulge in sexual intercourse at a tender age and erodes the moral fabric of society.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Govt Reiterates Stance On Pregnant School Girls

A 29-year-old woman from Harare’s Mufakose suburb is seeking help after experiencing a swelling tummy for the past seven years.
Alisa Sakile Marova claims she fell pregnant when she was 22 and later went into labour but surprisingly, the baby did not come out.
Doctors told her there was no longer a baby in her womb despite having confirmed that she was indeed pregnant before.
Marova believes she was bewitched by the wife of a man she once dated though her family denies the accusation.
Speaking during an interview with Destiny Media, a <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/mufakose-women-who-has-been-pregnant-for-seven-years-seeks-help/">Newzimbabwe.com</a> TV channel, Marova said:
<blockquote>
There is a man who I used to see who had not told me he was married. His wife came home to the place I used to stay but did not find me home as I had moved.
I later received a private call and it was a woman’s voice. She threatened me. We searched for the lady after that.
I had a friend who is a prophet and he gave me leads and a name, but we were told that she had died.
We assume she is the one who bewitched me, but her family denies those accusations.
</blockquote>
Marova said this year her doctor told her that he had seen a cyst (a sac-like pocket of membranous tissue that contains fluid, air, or other substances that grow anywhere in the body). She said:
<blockquote>
After I failed to conceive, my stomach started swelling and doctors ran numerous scans but they said there was nothing inside.
I went to local and South African hospitals but doctors could not establish the problem.
Now my doctor says it’s a cyst, but when it is drained my stomach swells back soon afterward.
</blockquote>

Woman Who Dated A Married Man Develops "Rare" Condition

DNA tests to establish the paternity of the child born by the nine-year-old Tsholotsho girl have shown that her father, who is the prime suspect, is not the newborn’s biological father.
<a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/dna-test-exonerates-father-in-nine-year-olds-pregnancy-saga/">The Sunday News</a> reported sources close to the matter on Friday morning saying the abused girl’s father has been exonerated by the DNA test results.
However, medical experts said the tests do not say the father did not rape his daughter but only prove that he is not the father of the baby. Said the source:
<blockquote>
Yes, the DNA results came out negative and now the real search for the father (of the newly born) begins. It is now a complex matter.
</blockquote>
The father to the nine-year-old was arrested by the police on 29 August when it was discovered that the minor was pregnant.
The minor failed to reveal the identity of her abuser prompting authorities to resort to using DNA tests to see if the accused was indeed the father of the baby that was born a few weeks ago.
Meanwhile, the National University of Science and Technology’s (NUST) Applied Genetic Testing Centre (AGTC) on Thursday denied reports it had concluded the DNA tests.
NUST director Zephaniah Dhlamini told the <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/pregnant-9-year-old-dna-tests-not-yet-concluded/">Chronicle</a> that they had yet to conclude the DNA tests. Dhlamini was quoted as saying:
<blockquote>
We don’t know who generated that message, it can be disruptive to the investigation.
We are yet to conclude our tests and we request that we be allowed to do work without any sideshows.
What is the intention of sending such incorrect information before investigations are concluded?
</blockquote>

DNA Test Show That Father Of 9-year-old Girl Is Not Responsible For The Pregnancy

Chief Gampu Sithole of Tsholotsho has condemned the rape of the nine-year-old girl from his area who became pregnant as a result of the sexual abuse saying it was uncultured and unacceptable.
According to officials, the girl, who is eight months pregnant, is not aware of the pregnancy as she believes she has a “stomach ailment.”
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Chief Gampu urged society to protect young children from sexual predators. He said:
<blockquote>
I’m here to address the situation that occurred in my community involving the nine-year-old girl who just so happened to become pregnant.
Being the leaders that we are, we strongly condemn this heinous conduct. Soon after learning the tragic news, I was able to visit the family and meet the child’s grandmother.
I was told the girl had gone through puberty earlier than planned. The child was supposed to receive medical attention because that alone should have been a concern handled by a doctor. We want this innocent minor to receive the justice she deserves.
</blockquote>
Chief Gampu said he will undertake awareness campaigns in his community about issues related to child abuse. He also spoke against child marriages. He added:
<blockquote>
We highly condemn this particular issue, I personally refuse to accept it as a normal crime and justifiable.
I doubt God can accept this, the government definitely does not, the community should not normalise or accept it as well.
Although we do not yet know who the perpetrator may be, we leave that decision to the legal system in the hope that a just penalty will be meted out to the offender.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/chief-gampu-speaks-on-nine-year-old-pregnant-girl-dilemma/">The Sunday News</a>

Chief Gampu Speaks On Nine-year-old Pregnant Girl From His Area

A pregnant nine-year-old girl from Tsholotsho has refused to give police the name of the man who raped her, reported <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/2022/11/8-year-olds-pregnancy-probe-turns-into-a-whodunit-as-girl-refuses-to-talk/">ZimLive.</a>
The girl, from Masekesa Village under Chief Gampu, was just eight years old when she was impregnated.
Doctors say the child has a rare condition of “precocious puberty” – when hormone glands are activated earlier than normal.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they first received a report of rape on 30 August this year, when the Grade 3 pupil was already seven months pregnant. Nyathi said on Tuesday:
<blockquote>
The child was taken for a medical which revealed the pregnancy. Regrettably, to date, she has not revealed the name of the person who sexually abused her. We believe as police that she was threatened.
I must stress that we won’t give up, we’re still conducting our investigations with specialist officers, medical experts and counsellors who are doing their best to get to the bottom of this matter.
</blockquote>
The girl is currently admitted at the United Bulawayo Hospitals and is expected to give birth by caesarean section sometime in November.
United Bulawayo Hospitals acting CEO Dr Harrison Murambanapasi disclosed that doctors are expecting “a lot of challenges” during the Tsholotsho girl’s delivery.
<h2>Abortion is illegal in Zimbabwe</h2>
Abortion is illegal in Zimbabwe but doctors can terminate pregnancies after rape victims obtain a court order under provisions of the Termination of the Pregnancy Act.
However, in the case of the Tsholotsho child, doctors decided an abortion would be too dangerous after she was taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals already eight months pregnant.
Meanwhile, the youngest person ever to give birth is Lina Media from Peru, who gave birth aged five years and seven months in 1939.
Medina’s father was arrested on suspicion of sexual abuse but was later released due to lack of evidence, and the baby’s biological father was never identified.

Pregnant 8-year-old Girl Refuses To Reveal Name Of Abuser

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. | <a href="https://masvingomirror.com/shurugwi-trio-in-custody-for-terminating-pregnancy/">The Mirror</a>

Shurugwi Trio Arrested For Terminating Pregnancy

Five police recruits are set to be expelled from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), for violating police Standing Orders, after they were found to be pregnant during their training.
The police trainees are Recruit Constables Mambwe Peace, Mzumala Grace, Nzvege Ashwny, Jachi Gina, and Kutesera Delyn Fungisai. They were undergoing training at Morris Depot in Harare. Part of the police internal codes read:
<blockquote>
Should a married or unmarried policewoman fall pregnant, she can apply for maternity leave in terms of the police ‘leave’ regulations.
Police woman who falls pregnant under recruit training will be discharged from the force.
</blockquote>
The ZRP conducted routine tests using urine samples on 162 female recruits on 30 and 31 August this year and 5 tested positive.
To confirm their pregnancy status, it was recommended they undergo an Ultrasound scan on September 5 and they tested positive.
The pregnancy status of the five was as follows: Mzumala Grace (5 weeks, 2 days old); Nzvege Ashwny (15 weeks and 3 days), Jachi Gina (14 weeks, 2 days), Kutesera Delyn Fungisai (11 weeks 6 days old) while Mambwe Peace, an incomplete miscarriage was noted.
The five were recruited into the Zimbabwe Republic Police and posted to ZRP Morris Training Depot for initial training in 2021.
They are to be dismissed as being “unfit for police duties, according to the Police Act Section (50) (a) Chapter 11:10. | <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/2022/09/five-police-recruits-face-discharge-for-falling-pregnant-during-training/">ZimLive</a>

Five Police Recruits Face Dismissal After Falling Pregnant During Training

A 26-year-old woman is offering her unborn child in exchange for cash so that she can support her other child living with a disability.
Taruvinga, a mother of two girls, told H-Metro that she is “selling” her unborn child to raise funds to buy a wheelchair for her five-year-old child.
She claimed that her husband, Tawanda Banda (33), abandoned her after giving birth to a child with a disability, saying her in-laws said there was no one with such a condition in their family.
Taruvinga also claimed that her husband impregnated her without her consent, dumped her and then left for Malawi. She said:
<blockquote>
I didn’t want another child considering the life I am living where I am failing to support this child on my back.
If I can find a couple that wants to pay for the child in my womb, I’d be grateful.
He is a boy, according to the scan. I am expecting the child in June, according to maternity records.
… I love the neglected child. She is my gift from God so I want money, as well as a wheelchair, to help her access everything, including education.
I am finding it difficult to make ends meet and that is why I saw that it was better to offer the unborn child to either Social Welfare or any willing couple.
I lost my national identity card and without that, I cannot process anything at Social Welfare.
</blockquote>
Taruvinga, who is a vendor, said at one point she contemplated taking her own life.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/woman-puts-unborn-child-on-sale/">H-Metro</a></h4>

Woman Puts Unborn Child On Sale

Sixty-three (63) girls in Bulawayo dropped out of school after being impregnated, while about 40 pupils were also impregnated by gold panners in Ntabazinduza within a year.
This was revealed by Bulawayo provincial education director Olicah Kaira. She was speaking during a meeting hosted by the Matabeleland Council for the Welfare of the Child last week.
Kaira told the gathering that since the commencement of the coronavirus-induced national lockdown in March 2020, at least 63 girls dropped out of school in the city after falling pregnant while one 12-year-old pupil committed suicide during the term. She said:
<blockquote>As a ministry, in Bulawayo, we received three cases reported of unintended pregnancies this term alone and we think there could be more unreported cases. Since the onset of the lockdown, the total number of cases now stands at 63.
We also received a report of a 12-year-old who committed suicide, investigations conducted by the ministry revealed that the situation at home where the child lived could have influenced the suicide.</blockquote>
In 2020 the Government amended the Education Act to allow pregnant girls back in class.
However, reports indicate that few girls were returning to school, as they have to assume motherly roles.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/63-pregnant-school-girls-drop-out-in-byo/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Sunday News</a></h4>

63 Pregnant Girls Drop Out Of School In Bulawayo

South African student Dineo Gwendoline, 22, this week told NewZimbabwe.com that she has been abandoned by Grace Mugabe’s son from her first marriage, Russell Goreraza after falling pregnant.
She said that she had opted for an abortion but shelved the idea after Goreraza failed to pay the money. Said Gwendoline:
<blockquote>I’m pregnant with Russell Goreraza’s child. He knew from the very first time I found out. He has changed towards me now. I asked for his help and he keeps giving me excuses till this day. He has told me that if I decide to keep the baby he’ll run off since his not a South African (SA) citizen; it isn’t going to affect him at all. Ever since we’ve being seeing each other since late 2016 we’ve not used a condom, ever! Why then now does he get me pregnant and think it’s all on me. Instead of owning up to his responsibilities he is busy parading the world, sleeping, partying and paying different prostitutes.</blockquote>
Gwendoline said she is willing to do a DNA test to prove that Goreraza is her child’s father.
More: <a href="http://newzimbabwe.com/news-40861-Grace’s+love+rat+dumps+Pregnant+SA+lover/news.aspx">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

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