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Adelaide Moyo Chronicle Reporter
A HEAVILY pregnant Democratic Republic of Congo teenage mum and her husband have been jailed for a combined three weeks after they illegally entered the country claiming they were looking for a prophet to help her deliver.

Aline Pande, 19, told Victoria Falls magistrate Sharon Rosemani that she had been pregnant for almost 10 months and she was continuously feeling labour pains but failing to deliver.

She said she had to deliver through a caesarean operation but couldn’t afford the fees, hence they came to Zimbabwe in search of a “prophet” that could help her deliver naturally.

She was arrested with her husband, Moses Nyeka, 23, alongside Nyeka’s teenage sister, Kabutwe Tambwe, 16, who had accompanied them on the 1,800km road trip.

“I’ve been married to Nyeka for two years and I’m having serious problems with my pregnancy. We came to the country to see a prophet. I’m not sure of his name because we just call him papa,” said Pande.

Nyeka, Tambwe and Pande — who has an 18-month-old baby back in Congo — were convicted on their own plea of guilty to illegally entering the country through an undesignated point.

Nyeka was sentenced to two weeks in prison or a fine of $20 while Tambwe was sentenced to one week in jail or a fine of $10. Tambwe was warned, cautioned and discharged because of her age.

However, the family is stuck at the Victoria Falls Prison as it does not have the money to pay the fine.

No details about the said prophet were given as the Congolese said they didn’t know much about him. Neither did they know where to find him.

Said Nyeka in court as he begged for leniency: “I came here because my wife is experiencing complications in her pregnancy. She’s about to give birth and we can’t afford a doctor for an operation. We don’t have passports because in our country they were only issued them during the election year.

“We decided to come to Zimbabwe after hearing about a prophet who could help us.”

Prosecuting, Takunda Ndovorwi told the court that the trio illegally entered the country through the bush near the Victoria Falls Border Post on June 21.

“The family came to Zimbabwe through a hole in the fence. They were caught on June 24 as they attempted to exit the country through the same route into Zambia. Upon being asked to produce their travelling documents by the Immigration officials, they failed to do so leading to their arrest,” he said.