Teen Mum Kills Baby With Poisoned Milk
A 19-year-old woman has been arrested in Mberengwa, Midlands Province, for allegedly poisoning her 7-month-old baby.
Felistus Mpofu of Village Shumba, Chief Mposi, Mberengwa, was apprehended by police and is now assisting them with their investigations.
Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, Midlands Police Spokesperson, said the incident happened on March 1 around 2 PM, when the woman was travelling to Zvishavane.
“Mpofu left home together with the baby intending to go to Zvishavane to look for a job. While in Zvishavane around 8 PM, she became stranded at Mandava Bus Terminus. She then fed her baby with milk laced with an organ phosphate tablet,” said Inspector Mahoko.
Around 3 AM, Mpofu was offered accommodation by a woman in Mandava.
“Suddenly the baby started vomiting and her condition deteriorated. The woman who had offered her accommodation accompanied Mpofu to Zvishavane District Hospital where the baby was pronounced dead upon arrival,” said Inspector Mahoko.
A police report was filed, and when she was searched, police discovered she was in possession of a poisonous feeding bottle.
Mpofu is being held at ZRP Zvishavane, while the infant’s body is being held at Zvishavane Hospital Mortuary awaiting a postmortem.
IN OTHER NEWS
a Harare maid, Mellisa Matafi, has been charged with attempted infanticide after being caught burying her newborn baby alive.
The case was brought to light on Monday, March 6th, after Matafi was released from custody until May 9th while the State awaits a medical report from the hospital.
According to the prosecution, on February 9th at around 5 am, Matafi, who worked as a maid in Mt. Pleasant, dug a pit in the garden and buried her newborn baby. The gruesome incident was discovered when a security guard, Last Mafuwa, noticed bloodstains on the pavement and suspected something was amiss. He then saw Matafi coming from the garden holding a hoe.
Mafuwa’s suspicions were confirmed when he alerted the homeowner, Hildaberta Rwambiwa, about Matafi’s strange behaviour.
Upon questioning, Matafi claimed she was experiencing heavy blood flow and disposing of blood clots. However, Rwambiwa was not convinced and forced Matafi to remove what she had buried with her hands. To her horror, a newborn baby was discovered, buried alive!
