Zimpapers Logo

Mpumelelo Nyoni Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO woman strangled and buried her new-born baby girl, minutes after giving birth in her parents’ home, a court heard.
A tenant at the home heard the infant’s cries and exposed Princess Dube’s heinous crime.Dube, 28, yesterday appeared in court facing infanticide charges. She pleaded guilty and was remanded in custody to September 4 for sentencing.

Prosecuting, Sibekithemba Dube said last Sunday around 1AM, Dube gave birth and killed her baby, but a tenant Farai Chingombe was suspicious, leading to the crime being discovered.

“On August 24, Princess Dube started experiencing labour pains and moved out of the spare bedroom where she was sleeping with her young sister.

“At around 1AM she gave birth to a baby girl that was heard crying by their tenant, Farai Chingombe,” said Dube.

The prosecutor said Chingombe confronted Princess after she came back home covered in blood.

“Chingombe became suspicious and came out of his room only to find Dube coming from outside. The tenant asked her what had transpired, but she claimed she had hurt herself.

“The following day, upon coming home from work, Chingombe noticed that Dube was no longer pregnant and upon questioning her she admitted to killing the baby,” said the prosecutor.

The court also heard that Dube later showed concerned residents the shallow grave where she had buried the baby.

A post-mortem report which was presented in court showed that Dube’s baby died due to asphyxia and “undue care at birth.”