Woman gives birth in Inter Africa bus

BIKITA-What started as a normal journey from Chipinge to Gweru was cut short along the way for 33 year old Kumbirai Magoso when she suddenly delivered movie style, a bouncing 2.8kg baby boy in Inter Africa bus.

According to Faith Mabika Chinheva from Masvingo in Mucheke who helped her to deliver the baby, Magoso started experiencing labour pains while the bus was parked at Redan Service Station, Nyika Growth Point in Bikita for a routine recess

“I was seated in the bus on the opposite seat when a woman started making strange movements on the seat. Upon enquiry she said ‘the baby is coming out’ and immediately I alerted the driver and the conductor not to move, and requested for a blanket from othrer passengers since she had none. I told her to lie down on the passage and start pushing safely.

“I told he her not to move around as that would affect the baby who already his head out.

“I don’t even know how I gathered the courage to do what I did as this was my first time to help someone deliver, I thank God that all went well.

“After delivering she was quickly taken to Nyika Clinic by a Toyota Probox that had already been hired as she was delivering and we proceeded with our journey,” said Mabika.

The bus’s conductor, Justice Matya also confirmed the bizarre but interesting incident that happened on Wednesday afternoon.

When The Midweek Watch contacted Magoso, she was in jovial mood and was all smiles during the short interview while still detained at Nyika Clinic awaiting to be discharged on Thursday as per the medical staff advice.

“I am full of joy, Mwari akanaka veduwee, I didn’t know that I was due because nhumbu yakabata ndabva kubaiwa jardel, I am so elated, I delivered without any complications although it came as a big shock to me, I never experienced any signs and symptoms before that I would deliver yesterday (Wednesday).

“I delivered a bouncing 2.8kg baby boy with the assistance of a Good Samaritan woman who was on the bus, the boy has been unofficially named ‘Inter Africa’ by the nursing staff and other people, so until he gets another name he will be called Inter Africa and my wish is for him to work for this company. The bus driver and the conductor including the passengers were very friendly during my delivery, keep it up,” said the mother of three boys and a girl.

Magoso who is from Muradzikwa Village in Mt Selinda under Chief Mapungwana but married and staying in Gweru also attributed her fortunes to her faith, she is a Masowe Echishanu Church devotee.

She confided to The Midweek Watch that she was coming from Chipinge where she had gone to attend a funeral of her 18 year old sister’s daughter who died two months ago and had been consoling her all this time.

“I was on my way to Gweru when I boarded the Inter Africa bus at Birchenough Bridge, with not even a sign of labour pains, I even disembarked for recess at Redan Service Station at Nyika Growth Point with other passengers, but as soon I got back onto the bus, all hell broke loose, the boy was coming out, fast and furious. My plan was to go for a scan as soon as I got to Gweru to find out the date of delivery since I had no clue of the dates when I got pregnant,” said Magoso.

She said her husband, Evans Shoko would come to Chipinge as she would be going back on Thursday with her sister and will stay there until she is strong enough to go to Gweru.

Magoso’s first born child is 14 years old, ironically her third born was delivered on the road to hospital in Chipinge, her parents’ home area.

“We were walking to Chikore Hospital when labour pains started and I delivered there and there only to be ferried to hospital by a hired car after delivery,” she added.

Grace Chibaya of Nyika Growth Point who visited Magoso at the clinic paid tribute to the staff at the medical institution for their professionalism and empathy.

“I saw her and she is in high spirits and no complaints against the staff, they managed the situation very well despite that she gave birth in a bus,” she said.