The Sunday News
Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
A Gokwe woman has been slapped with a four-month jail term by a Gokwe magistrate after being convicted of dumping her newborn baby into a pit latrine.
Blessing Mudoti (27) of Village Dzavo under Chief Nemangwe in Gokwe, will, however, serve an effective two months after the magistrate suspended the other two on condition of good behaviour.
Magistrate Mr Busani Sibanda, who convicted Mudoti of attempted infanticide, also converted the remaining two months to 70 hours of community service.
Prosecuting, Mr Romeo Zibani told the court that on 7 October this year, Mudoti was alone at her homestead and gave birth to a baby girl.
She then threw the baby into a pit latrine and left the home.
A neighbour Mrs Bernadet Tafireyi then visited the homestead and found no one.
She then proceeded to the toilet in a bid to relieve herself where she heard the baby crying.
She called other villagers who then helped dig the latrine and retrieve the baby.
The baby was taken to Gokwe District Hospital where she was treated.
A report was made leading to the arrest of Mudoti.
