CHILD DIES ON WOMAN’S BACK
‘. . . I had to carry the corpse for hours’
Paidamoyo Bore
VIMBAI CHAMAUNGA of Goromonzi South struggles to hold back tears and stammers at every turn as she narrates how a child died under her care on their way to Ruwa Poly Clinic.
For many, it is scary to come into contact with a dead body. However, when you are left in the care of someone’s child and they die, you have no choice.
Chamaunga was approached by her neighbour Wasu, who is in her late twenties, to look after her one-and-a-half yearold baby (Ady) as the latter travelled to Mutare.
Wasu promised to return in four days, but failed to do so.
During that period, Chamaunga noticed that her neighbour’s child was unwell and tried to contact the mother, but to no avail.
“I noticed the pain Ady was in and looked for baby cards from his uncle who later accompanied me to the clinic,’’
Chamaunga said.
“Nurses administered malnutrition treatment to the baby and ordered us to come for check-up after a week.”
Before the stipulated week, the child’s situation deteriorated further.
Chamaunga decided to return to the clinic.
Unfortunately, on her way there, the baby died, but she did not notice.
“I felt like someone had stabbed me as nurses pronounced the child dead and told us to make a police report,” Chamaunga narrated.
At Ruwa Police Station, efforts to secure transport to Parirenyatwa for post-mortem and further arrangements to locate the mother proved fruitless.
Inspector Charles Vachivi said in some cases, stations borrow cars from sister stations when the need arises. But, in this case Mabvuku Police Station’s vehicles were not available.
Sadly, due to economic hardships, the uncle could not afford transport to the hospital. The police told them to take the corpse and continue looking for transport.
“This was my worst experience ever. I had to carry a corpse covered with a towel only; let alone someone’s child,’’ Chamaunga said.
Neighbours praised Chamaunga for such love and care for someone’s child.
They, however, alleged that the child could have died because of abuse and negligence by the biological mother.
A neighbour who preferred anonymity alleged that Wasu ill-treated her own baby and at some point reportedly administered beer to put the baby to sleep.
When contacted for comment, Wasu denied all the allegations. She said she was not aware that her child was sick.
Neighbours alleged that she had the baby out of wedlock and the whereabouts of the father were not known as the mother gives different statements.