Tendai Muererwa
Chipinge-The moon had barely risen over Chako Village in Chief Mutema’s area when the quiet stillness of the August night was broken by the overwhelming pangs of labor.
At just 21years old, Irine Lucia Simango found herself in a desperate, lonely struggle. Working as a domestic worker for Charles Muyaza (66) in Mudzimwa Village, she had kept her burden hidden. Around 9pm, as the cold evening air set in, the labor pains became unbearable. Slipping away from the main house unnoticed, she made her way into the dark shadows toward the outdoor blair toilet.
There, in the solitude of the night, a live baby boy was born.
Panic took hold in the dim light. In a moment of sheer desperation, the newborn was dropped into the deep pit of the toilet. To ensure the quietness remained absolute, heavy stones were dropped down into the pit, striking the infant until all silence returned. Burdened by the weight of what had transpired, Irine returned to her bedroom and went to sleep, leaving the dark pit behind.
The next morning, as the sun began to rise at 6:00 AM, Irine returned to the scene carrying a bucket and a broom to clean the bloodstains left behind. However, the hurried cleanup left traces of blood and soiled clothes in plain sight.
Joice Muhlanga, a 57 old resident, quickly grew suspicious after spotting Irine moving about with the cleaning utensils. Noticing the blood and discarded garments, Joice confronted the young woman, asking directly if she had attempted an abortion. Irine denied the accusation, but suspicion lingered.
Three days later, on August 18th, Joice returned to the blair toilet, holding a light above the deep opening. Shining the beam straight down into the corner of the pit, the terrible truth was revealed: the small body of the infant, partially covered by stones.
Joice immediately alerted her brother Muyaza, who brought the matter directly to the police. Officers arrived on the scene and Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, the Manicaland Acting Police Spokesperson, confirmed the arrest of the 21 old as formal investigations into the tragic event got underway.
