MUTARE – A man arrested after his child bride died during child birth was charged with her murder on Friday after appearing before a court in Mutare.
Prosecutors said Hatirarami Momberume, 26, “had a legal duty as the alleged husband to ensure that such a young child was taken to special health facilities to deliver, realising that there was a real risk or possibility that his conduct by omission might cause the death of Anna Machaya during or after the delivery of the baby.”
A regional court heard that Momberume, of Taguta Farm in Kwekwe, “instead took Anna Machaya to Johanne Marange traditional midwives where she delivered and died after some labour complications.”
Anna, who got pregnant at the age of 14, died on July 15 while delivering her baby at a church shrine in Marange.
The two “midwives” who delivered the baby boy were named in court as Babra Hodzi and Enia Mukono.
Momberume faces a second charge of “having sexual intercourse or performing indecent acts with a young person” which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Magistrate Lucy Mungwaru remanded Momberume in custody to September 3.
Tirivanhu Mutyasiri appeared for the National Prosecuting Authority.
Meanwhile, Anna’s parents who are accused of lying about her age and also pledging their nine-year-old daughter to Momberume were also due to appear at the same court on Friday.
In a landmark judgement in 2016, Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court banned marriage for both boys and girls under the age of 18. The age of sexual consent is 16.
But some families believe child marriage can provide financial benefits.
Many child brides hope marriage will provide the opportunity to go to school. However, young girls typically end up falling pregnant soon after, or being kept at home to carry out household chores.
Arrests and prosecutions of offenders are rare and authorities including politicians have often been accused of turning a blind eye to paedophilia among religious sects which have a lot of political influence.
The United Nations has urged the Zimbabwean government to recognise child marriage as a crime and bring an end to the practice.
