Woman jailed after burying stillborn twins in shallow grave

A 43-year-old Hurungwe woman has been convicted and sentenced for concealing the birth of twin infants whose bodies were later discovered buried in a shallow grave near her homestead.

Angela Madzvimbo was convicted by the Karoi Magistrates’ Court after she pleaded guilty to concealing the birth of the twins, in contravention of the law which requires all births and deaths to be formally reported.

Prosecutors told the court that on January 2, 2026, Madzvimbo left her homestead in the morning while heavily pregnant, telling relatives and villagers that she was going to look for mushrooms in a nearby bush.

She returned home around 2PM no longer pregnant, a development that immediately raised suspicion among community members.

Upon questioning by the village head and other residents, Madzvimbo admitted that she had given birth to twins who were stillborn and had buried their bodies close to her homestead without informing health authorities or the police.

The matter was subsequently reported, leading to the exhumation of the infants’ bodies, which were taken to the hospital for post-mortem examinations.

In passing sentence, the magistrate imposed six months’ imprisonment, with three months suspended.

The remaining three months were suspended on condition that Madzvimbo completes 105 hours of community service.

Cases of concealed births are not uncommon in rural communities, often linked to fear, stigma, lack of access to health facilities, and limited awareness of legal obligations.

While courts often take into account mitigating factors such as poverty, trauma, and lack of medical access, judicial officers have consistently emphasised that the law exists to protect both mothers and infants, and to ensure proper medical examination and documentation.

Authorities have repeatedly urged expectant mothers to seek medical assistance during pregnancy and childbirth, warning that failure to report births or deaths can attract criminal prosecution even where infants are stillborn. *_-ZimLive_*