Mabvuku couple dump newborn baby in trench

Samson Jackson (L) and Martha Gomo wait to be called into court to answer allegations of infanticide

Michael Mashiri

A Harare couple that dumped their baby a few hours after birth will appear in court today after Magistrate Dennis Mangosi postponed the case yesterday.

Martha Gomo, 32, and Samson Jackson, 46, of New Mabvuku appeared before the Harare Magistrates' Court charged with infanticide, contravening Section 48 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.

Allegations are that Gomo gave birth while alone in the house during the night.

She wrapped the baby in a black plastic bag and placed the child in a yellow bucket and closed it.

Gomo kept the baby in the bucket until midnight.

Together Jackson, they went to Tafara 1 High School trenches where they dumped the baby.

The corpse was discovered by members of the public who informed the police.

It is not clear at what stage the baby died.

Police have said that cases of baby dumping are going up with at least three reported each week.