BABY DUMPING CASES DROP DRAMATICALLY
. . . no one jailed for dumping in 2023 . . . number of babies given for adoption rises
ANGELA TUMBARARA is still haunted by images of the day she dumped her newborn baby in a school pit latrine. The then 18-year-old secretly carried her pregnancy to full-term before giving birth — alone — to a baby boy in the dead of the night.
Fearing her parents’ reaction, she dumped the baby at a nearby school.
However, it was not long before the school authorities discovered the crime.
After alerting the police, a manhunt for the baby’s mother was launched.
“For nine months, my parents never noticed that I was pregnant as my belly never bulged that much. I thought no one noticed that I was pregnant and that gave me confidence to dump the baby,” she recalled.
“When the police arrived at home, in the company of our neighbour, I immediately knew I was in trouble and there was no way out.”
Tumbarara was arrested and slapped with an effective three-year jail term in 2020.
The young mother, who served her sentence at the Chikurubi Female Prison, went on to surrender her child for adoption.
“The baby’s father jilted me. Keeping the child would have been a constant reminder of everything. My parents tried to convince me otherwise, but I stood my ground,” she said.
“I wish I could erase everything that happened. I am happy that my parents forgave me and also gave me a chance to go back to school.”
In Gokwe, Midlands province, Nyadzisai Zisengwe attempted to dump her baby, but later had a change of heart.
“I abandoned her at the Upenyu Children’s Home entrance. It was early in the morning, but about five hours later, I decided to go back and collect my daughter,” revealed Zisengwe.
“I had not thought it through when I dumped her. In fact, I panicked after discovering that I was pregnant. On the fateful day, all I wanted was to get rid of everything that reminded me of the man who sexually abused me.
“I was bitter about what he had done, but I realised that I could not take it out on the child. My parents came on board and assisted in providing for her.”
Tumbarara and Zisengwe’s cases probably give a rough picture of what many young women in the country are going through, leading to cases of baby dumping.
The long arm of the law has often caught up with culprits.
Reports, however, indicate that such cases have been on the decline.
Upenyu Children’s Home caretaker sister Gracia Ngwerume said they currently house 26 orphans, four of whom are barely two years old.
Two of the babies were handed over by their mothers, who felt they did not have what it takes to raise them.
The other two were dumped by their mothers before they disappeared without a trace.
While some of the cases were never reported, Ngwerume said there was a sharp decline in baby dumping cases in the area.
“We are gradually winning the war,” she said.
“A lot is happening in the villages; some of these cases are swept under the carpet by relatives to preserve family ties, but the cases are now isolated.”
Decline
According to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS), 29 people were put behind bars for baby dumping in 2020.
The figure dropped to 17 the following year, before further declining to nine in
2022.
Last year, there was no record of anyone being imprisoned for baby dumping.
“We did not record any incarcerations last year and this could be an indication that we are gradually winning the war against baby dumping,” revealed ZPCS national public relations officer Chief Superintendent Meya Khanyezi.
“However, we cannot rule out the fact that such cases can be recorded with other authorities like the police, social welfare, children’s homes, among others, or the culprits were never caught, hence there were no imprisonments.”
Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi acknowledged a decline in the number of reported cases, particularly in the last two years.
“We still have some cases, although they are now isolated,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
“However, in some instances, the culprits are caught and taken to court, while on other occasions, they are never identified or are still at large.”
Information obtained from the police public relations desk revealed that a total of 13 cases were reported across the country in 2022, before dropping to eight last year.
Implications
The Government believes the drop in baby dumping cases has largely been due to various awareness campaigns being conducted in communities.
Harare provincial social welfare officer Susan Ngani said the decline in cases, however, has led to a rise in the number of minors being surrendered for adoption.
“Most young mothers are now conscious of the laws and potential dangers associated with baby dumping. Resultantly, many now opt to place their children for adoption.
“It is unfortunate that we are not able to share the statistics, but we are happy that young mothers now value the sanctity of life.
“There has been an increase in the number of babies being given up for adoption, which, in turn, means increased numbers in children’s
homes,” said Ngani.
Surrendering procedure
Placing a child for adoption is an option open to any mother but the process is irreversible once started.
Thus, there are certain counselling sessions that a parent must go through before relinquishing parental rights. This is done to ensure that they understand the process and its implications before they fully commit to go through it.
During that period, the child may be placed under the foster care of a relative. After counselling sessions, if the parent insists she still wants to give up the child for adoption, the procedures then begin. “Some mothers change their minds when they go through the counselling sessions. Placing a child for adoption is a sensitive process, hence it is handled by senior social workers and senior magistrates. They carefully look at the conditions surrounding the case,” revealed Ngani.
Most children who are given up for adoption, she added, were conceived as a result of rape or incest, while others are from unstable backgrounds.
In cases where a baby is discovered dumped, the minor is first taken to hospital for medical check-up while the police conduct necessary investigations to establish the mother.
During that process, the Department of Social Welfare, which falls under the Ministry of Public Service and Social Welfare, will also be conducting the necessary paperwork, after which the child is admitted into a children’s home.
“It is encouraging that some mothers now understand the importance of surrendering a baby for adoption, but others are still ignorant of the dangers associated with dumping; the potential health and mental risks it engenders,” said Ngani.
“We, however, understand that some cases are from fear of bringing shame to the family due to religious or ideological differences.”
Health expert Ebison Chinherende opines that deterrent laws have played a key role in the declining cases of baby dumping.
“Mothers are now aware of the laws and possible consequences involved, which are devastating and far-reaching.
“Abandoned infants face a high risk of infections and death, and the psychological trauma experienced by these babies can have lifelong impacts on their development and well-being,” he said.
Advocacy
HIV/AIDS activist Tsungirai Maisiri attributes the drop in cases to increased advocacy by various rights groups.
Maisiri, however, feels the culture of surrendering a child for adoption is alien to Zimbabwe.
Traditionally, the family or extended family has often taken care of children born out of wedlock or in unfavourable circumstances.
“We note that, as we fight HIV/AIDS, we are also fighting unwanted/unplanned pregnancies, which also fuel unwanted babies that end up being dumped,” she said.
“There is also a general acceptance of use of contraceptives among young adults; however, some now opt for giving up the child for adoption, something which was foreign back in the day.”
Some feel there is need for more counselling sessions, as they attribute baby dumping to mental health crises caused by drug and substance abuse in some instances.
Psychologist Nisbert Mangoro said, while cases of teen pregnancies are still relatively high, most parents have stepped in to assist their children take care of “unplanned” babies.
“Parents no longer view unwanted or unplanned pregnancy as a grave crime, like back in the day.
“They are now stepping in to assist in raising their grandchildren.
“Giving birth at a young age is also traumatising for these young ladies, a phenomenon most parents now understand and are prepared to assist. Many people now realise baby dumping is not the way out,” said Mangoro.
Traditionalist Mbuya Rosemary Marumba says social ties and societal expectations play a huge role, hence most people are concerned about their image and reputation. “This could have been one of the major reasons some young mothers opted for baby dumping.
“This placed the youth under pressure in such a way that if one got pregnant, one opted for dumping the baby rather than tarnishing one’s family image,” she said.
“While some people condemn it as a foreign culture, there is no harm in adopting or looking after a baby who has a different DNA; it is not a new phenomenon.”