Masvingo granny stangles granddaughter

MASVINGO – In a bizarre case, a 65-year-old woman from Chivi in Masvingo assisted her pregnant daughter to deliver before allegedly strangling the baby to avoid responsibility.

Jane Chenzera and her daughter, Shingirai Shoko (20) both of Chikofa Village under Chief Chipindu, pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and infanticide when they appeared separately before Masvingo magistrate Mr Oliver Mudzongachiso at Chivi Magistrates Court this week.

The pair was remanded in custody to 5 June.

In defence, Chenzira said her daughter had no means to look after the baby and she also could not assist her as she was poor.

For the State, Mr Nixon Chamisa said on 20 April at about 7.30pm Shoko was asleep in her room when she experienced labour pains and went to wake up her mother who was sleeping in her bedroom hut.

The court was told that Chenzira took her daughter to the field where Shoko delivered a baby boy. After the delivery, Chenzira strangled the baby and buried it in a hole near an anthill. She covered the hole with an empty sack and tree branches.

The following day, a fellow villager Mr Robert Tagara met Shoko and congratulated her for giving birth. Mr Tagara asked the sex of the baby but Shoko did not respond and he became suspicious, the court was told.

He teamed up with other villagers and went to report to the police leading to the arrest of Chenzira and Shoko. Shoko was also taken to the doctor who examined her and produced a medical report, which showed that she had actually given birth. The Chronicle