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A neighbour only identified as Nyamatanda witnessed the stabbing

Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
A CRAZED mum repeatedly stabbed her day-old baby in a frenzied attack witnessed by a neighbour, Midlands Police said yesterday.
Sandra Bhebhe, 26, of Guinea Fowl just outside Gweru, left the knife buried in the tot’s neck, Acting Midlands police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende told The Chronicle.

A neighbour who claims she witnessed the attack said she was alerted by Bhebhe’s screams as she repeatedly plunged the blade in her baby’s neck on April 27.

“She was standing in the middle of her yard as she stabbed her baby. I ran over to check and I found the lifeless, bloodied body of the infant lying on the ground. She had fled,” said the neighbour, who only identified herself as Nyamatanda.

“Other neighbours arrived and we called the police. The knife was still embedded in the baby’s neck when the body was taken from the scene by police.”

A post-mortem will be conducted at Gweru General Hospital.

Asst Insp Mukwende said: “I can confirm the arrest of a 26-year-old woman on suspicion of infanticide. She’s still assisting police with investigations.”

Yesterday, a disturbing picture of Bhebhe was emerging.

Neighbours described her as a loner who never received visitors. She had been staying alone at the plot following the death of her parents about two years ago.

“The way she killed her own baby and the way she has been staying alone for so long is strange. I think she has a serious mental illness,” said one neighbour.

Neighbours said it was an even bigger mystery that Bhebhe got pregnant because they had never seen her with a man.

Asst Insp Mukwende said when she was arrested, Bhebhe was wearing blood-stained clothes.

The Chronicle visited Bhebhe’s plot which was deserted. There is a single metal cabin at the plot.

Recently, a Mkoba 20 woman, Helen Mugariri, appeared in court facing an infanticide charge after allegedly strangling her newly born baby.