14-year-old girl dies 3 days after giving birth

Zim Now Writer

A 14-year-old girl who belongs to the Johane Marange apostolic sect died at home in Buhera on Monday, a few days after giving birth.

Delight Masomeke of Bvumbura Village in Chivhu gave birth to a baby girl on December 29, 2022 at Masasa in Buhera, but died three days later, according to family relative and lawyer Norris Johannes.

“The deceased is said to have given birth to a baby girl on December 29, 2022 and remained unwell until she succumbed to (an undisclosed) illness yesterday (Monday),” Johannes said.

“Her mother Nelia Matarirano is my sister, but the family was not aware that the girl was married.

Johannes said that the family did not know that the girl was married and thought she was at school, adding that they had sought police intervention.

“All we knew was she was at school, only to be shocked with the news of her death yesterday. Relatives wanted to hastily bury her, but we sought police intervention. We are at the police station filing a report.”

There has been a spike in the number of under-age girls who died while giving birth at apostolic shrines.

Anna Machaya, 14, died while giving birth at Johane Marange shrine in Manicaland province last year, sparking public outrage.

A 15-year-old girl, Ferby Munyafi of Chiadzwa Village in Marange died from excessive bleeding while delivering under the watch of a faith healer while another 15-year-old girl, Nokutenda Hwaramba, also died last year while giving birth at an apostolic sect shrine in Bikita District, Masvingo Province.