By Kelvin Wilson Kasiwulaya/Thelma Wandayi
In a disturbing trend, cases of abandoned newborns are on the rise in Zimbabwe, with a recent incident highlighting the plight of these vulnerable infants.
A newborn baby girl was found abandoned in a bush near Donga Business Centre in Shurugwi, wrapped in a plastic bag and left amidst a colony of stinging red ants.
The infant was discovered by a passerby and rushed to the hospital, where she was found to be in good health.
Midlands police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the incident and appealed for information to help identify the suspect.
This case is just the latest in a troubling trend sweeping across Zimbabwe.
Early this year Kudakwashe Mavhunga a metal scrap collector from Chipadze Township, Bindura ( Mashonaland Central) stumbled upon two babies dumped in a banana field in Bindura.
Just a few days ago in Kwekwe (Midlands Province), Michael Magoronga “Chronicle” reported a case of a newly born baby found dead, floating in a sewage pond in Mbizo 18.
The tragic plight of abandoned newborns in Zimbabwe demands urgent action.
According to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service, baby dumping cases declined from 29 in 2020 to 17 in 2021 and 9 in 2022, but the true scale of the problem remains hidden as many cases go unreported.
While some perpetrators are caught, many baby dumpers evade justice.
Moreover, Zimbabwe hitherto continues to grapple with infanticide cases, as stated by Police Commissioner Paul Nyathi (Zimbabwe Republic Police National Spokesperson) 13 cases of infanticide were recorded this year (2024) between January and March alone.
In 2022 infanticide cases stood at 75 , while 2021 the country recorded a staggering 110 cases.
However, many cases of infanticide also go unreported and do not make it into police records.
Janita Corina Mesu, a researcher at the University of Zimbabwe, wrote in her doctoral thesis the underlying causes of this disturbing phenomenon.
Her findings point to a complex web of social and economic factors driving desperate mothers to abandon their newborns.
Poverty, lack of access to family planning resources, and societal stigma surrounding single motherhood are just a few of the key drivers.
“The decision to abandon a child is never an easy one, and it often stems from a place of immense desperation and hopelessness,” explains Dr. Mesu.
“These mothers are facing overwhelming challenges, and they see no other way to provide for their child or protect them from the harsh realities of life.”
Simon Masanga, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, is on record citing mental illness such as depression and psychosis, lack of appropriate information, poverty, unwanted or unplanned pregnancy, incest and rejection as the main reasons a parent commits infanticide or baby dumping.
In response to the growing crisis, local business leader Professor Smelly Dube of River Valley Properties has stepped up, providing vital donations of cash, clothes, blankets, and milk to the rescued newborn.
“On behalf of River Valley Properties, we have donated those items for the baby to be comfortable, and we are going to continue assisting the baby through other orphanage projects we are supporting,” said Professor Dube.
This is not the first time that Professor Dube has spearheaded humanitarian efforts to assist vulnerable children in Zimbabwe. She has been actively involved in supporting orphanages and providing aid to disadvantaged children across the country
As the nation grapples with this heartbreaking issue, it is clear that a multifaceted approach is needed to address the root causes and provide support to vulnerable mothers and their children.
Only through a concerted effort from the government, civil society, and the private sector can Zimbabwe hope to stem the tide of abandoned newborns and ensure a brighter future for all its citizens.