By Kelvin Wilson Kasiwulaya
Gweru, Zimbabwe – In a tragic incident that has shaken the community, a dead human fetus was discovered at the Woodlands dumpsite in Gweru on June 15, 2024.
The grim discovery was made by Annastancia VENGE, a 53-year-old woman from Mambo Township, who was rummaging for plastic containers at the site.
According to Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, the Midlands police spokesperson, VENGE immediately reported the matter to the authorities at the ZRP Nehanda police station.
The fetus was then transported to the Gweru Provincial Hospital Mortuary for a post-mortem examination.
The police have now launched a manhunt for the mother of the dumped fetus, appealing to the public for any information that could assist in the investigation.
In Zimbabwe, infanticide is defined as causing the death of a child within six months of birth. It carries a penalty of imprisonment for up to five years.
Infanticide cases have been on the rise in Zimbabwe, Police Commissioner Paul Nyathi revealed that 13 cases of infanticide were recorded in the first three months of 2023 alone, with 75 cases reported in 2022 and 110 in 2021. However, many incidents go unreported and do not make it into official records.
Janita Corina Mesu, a doctoral researcher at the University of Zimbabwe, has studied the issue of infanticide in the country. Her findings suggest that most women who commit such acts suffer from mental health disorders and economic stress, driven by the burden of poverty and a lack of social and emotional support.
“For some women, the circumstances feel so dire that the only way they see out of the situation is by committing this act,”explains Mesu.
Mesu’s research, which focused on cases in the Rotten Row magistrate court, Chikurubi Female Prison, and Shurugwi Female Prison, found that the women involved were not “mad or bad,” but rather “desperately disadvantaged” individuals who lacked the necessary support and resources.
“In most maternal filicide cases, there were clear prior warning signs that women were suffering from mental health issues. If treatment was sought, it was either inadequate or not persevered with,” Mesu says.
The solution, according to Mesu, lies not in harsher punishments, but in effectively supporting women at risk of committing such crimes. This includes addressing mental health issues, identifying depression, and alleviating the effects of poverty through comprehensive social and economic interventions.
As the police continue their investigation, the Gweru community and the nation as a whole are called upon to reflect on the underlying humanitarian crisis that has led to these tragic incidents and to work towards a more compassionate and supportive system for vulnerable women and families.