Woman Arrested After Dumping Newborn Near Chapfuche Tollgate
A 35-year-old woman, Patience Chivesera of Beitbridge, has been arrested after dumping her newborn baby in a bush near Chapfuche Tollgate in Bubi.
Police confirmed that she faces charges of concealment of birth.
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Baby Discovered and Rushed for Treatment
According to B-Metro, authorities revealed that the day-old infant was discovered abandoned in a bushy patch near the busy tollgate.
Passersby alerted the police, and the baby was immediately taken to Beitbridge District Hospital for medical care and further management.
Police Statement
In a statement, police said:
“On 29/08/25, Police in Beitbridge arrested Patience Chivesera (35) for concealment of birth in Bubi. The suspect allegedly gave birth to a baby and dumped the day-old infant in a bushy area near Chapfuche Tollgate. The baby has since been taken to Beitbridge District Hospital for medical care and further management.”
Court Appearance Pending
Chivesera remains in custody and is expected to appear in court soon to face charges related to the incident.
Baby Dumping Laws and Penalties in Zimbabwe
Baby dumping is a serious offence in Zimbabwe which attracts jail time. Under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, abandoning a newborn with the intention of concealing its birth is punishable by a fine or imprisonment of up to six months. If a baby is deliberately exposed or abandoned in circumstances likely to cause death, offenders face harsher penalties, including up to five years in jail.
In cases where the abandonment leads to death, the charges may escalate to infanticide or even murder, depending on the circumstances. Zimbabwean courts also apply the Infanticide Act (Chapter 9:12), which allows for more lenient sentencing if it is proven that a mother acted while her mental state was disturbed due to childbirth or related pressures.
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The post Mother Arrested After Dumping Day-Old Baby Near Tollgate appeared first on iHarare News.
