A 41-year-old woman from Norton is currently being sought by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) after allegedly giving birth to a baby boy on Saturday, November 23, and discarding the infant in a Blair toilet.
ZRP spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, has urged the public to assist in locating the suspect, identified as Annie Fernando. He stated that the woman is wanted in connection with the crime of infanticide.
The incident is said to have occurred at Malham Farm in Mhondoro, where Fernando gave birth to the baby boy and later abandoned him in the toilet. Authorities were able to recover the baby’s body, which has since been sent to a mortuary in Norton.
Infanticide remains a concerning issue in Zimbabwe, with multiple factors contributing to such tragic acts. Mental health challenges, economic hardship, and social stigma often play a significant role in cases of child abandonment or death shortly after birth.
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Recent reports highlight the severity of the issue, with 13 cases of infanticide reported in the first quarter of 2023 alone, and 75 cases documented in 2022. Experts emphasize the need to address the underlying causes, such as poverty, mental health support, and societal pressure, to prevent future occurrences of infanticide in the country.