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The late 14-year-old Delight Masomeke, who died on Tuesday in Buhera after labour complications, was in a polygamous marriage involving another girl of her age, it has emerged.
Delight, who will be laid to rest today at her family home in Chivhu, dropped out of school and got married before completing Grade Seven, according to <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/girl-14-dies-after-birth-related-complications/">NewsDay Weekender</a>.
 Her husband from the Johane Marange sect is currently on the run.  
Zimbabwean laws criminalise the marriage of girls below the age of 18.
Police would release a detailed statement on the matter, NewsDay reported citing national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi. He is quoted as saying:
<blockquote>
We are yet to receive a full report from police in Manicaland,” Nyathi said. “Once we get the information we will release a detailed statement.
</blockquote>
An unnamed police source told the publication that investigations carried out so far revealed that Delight’s husband had three wives. The source said:
<blockquote>
Delight was the second wife and the third wife is 14 years old also. However, her husband’s whereabouts are still unknown. He resided in Chivhu together with his three wives.
</blockquote>
Johanne Marange sect allows polygamous marriages but claims that it does not allow child marriages. 
In 2021 when <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Anna_Machaya">Anna Machaya</a>, another 14-year-old girl died during childbirth at a church shrine, <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/johanne-marange-apostolic-church-apologises-over-anna-machayas-death/">the church released a statement</a> saying it does not allow child marriages. Reads in part the statement earlier published by Pindula News:
<blockquote>
But, we want to make it clear that our church abides and respect the laws of our government.
Our leader <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Noah_Taguta">High Priest Noah Taguta</a> (the late) and the followers of the church, we all respect the laws that govern Zimbabwe. We have high respect to our government and as a church, we also have our laws that clearly state that girls under the age of 18 are not married.
We make it a point that in every preaching sermon, our priests always preach the word against child marriages. It is one of our church doctrines that is against the practise of child marriages.
</blockquote>
Rights activists have raised a red flag on the increase in maternal deaths involving children and underage women from the sect.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Pindula News

New Details Emerge On 14-year-old Zimbabwean Mother Who Died After Labour Complications

The probe into the child sexual exploitation case of <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/07/28/a-14-year-old-girl-dies-giving-birth-at-shrine/">14-year-old Anna Machaya who died during childbirth</a> at a shrine in Marange last year is now complete and ready for publication.
Machaya’s death made headlines in 2021 prompting the inquiry into the child’s sexual exploitation which led to her demise.
Investigations are now complete and the report has been tabled before Parliament and is ready for publication, ZBC News reported citing <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Gender_Commission">Zimbabwe Gender Commission</a> chief executive officer, Mrs Virginia Muwanigwa. She said this Tuesday:
<blockquote>
We have been carrying inquiries following the alleged child sexual exploitation of Anna Machaya who died while giving birth at a shrine in Marange.
The probe has ended and we have since submitted the report to Parliament and waiting for publication.
</blockquote>
Hatirarame Evans Momberume (27), the man who had married Anna Machaya, <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/01/21/rape-of-anna-machaya-hatirarame-momberume-still-on-the-run/">is believed to be on the run.</a>
He <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/09/03/anna-memory-machayas-husband-back-in-court/">initially appeared in court</a> charged with murder and having a sexual relationship with a minor and <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/husband-of-deceased-14-year-old-anna-machaya-released-on-bail/">was granted bail.</a>
The completion of the probe comes when a <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/9-year-old-tsholotsho-girl-gives-birth-to-baby-girl/">9-year-old girl from Tsholotsho gave birth</a> via cesarean section at the United Bulawayo Hospitals earlier this week.
The 29-year-old father of the minor was arrested in August when it was discovered that she was pregnant.
The girl stated that <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/pregnant-nine-year-old-girl-opens-up-on-sexual-abuse/">her father told her that a goblin would come at night and insert things into her privates.</a> The “goblin” only came when her father was present.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Probe Into Child Sexual Exploitation Of Deceased 14-year-old Anna Machaya Now Complete

The Grade 7 pupil from Katanga, Norton, a small town in Mashonaland West Province, who died while giving birth in Bikita on 04 October, was buried in Mt Darwin on Thursday.
Nokutenda Hwaramba’s body was ferried from Bikita to Mt Darwin on Wednesday and laid to rest on the following day.
Her father, Bernard Hwaramba, told <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/norton-teen-laid-to-rest/">H-Metro</a> that they will release the details related to the circumstances which led to his 15-year-old daughter’s death in due course. He said:
<blockquote>
We have laid Nokutenda to rest. We saw it best to lay her to rest early since we spent the night travelling.
Details surrounding her death will be released later since we are still mourning her.
Nokutenda died on Tuesday at an apostolic church shrine while giving birth.
</blockquote>
She had been taken to the shrine by her father for prayers as their church doctrine does not allow them to seek medical help at hospitals.
Some Katanga residents had threatened to beat up Bernard, and his church members, accusing them of causing the death of Nokutenda.
Speaking to H-Metro on Wednesday, Nokutenda’s mother, Loice Muparadziwo, said her daughter was impregnated by one of their neighbours, one Aaron. She said:
<blockquote>
Nokutenda was said to have been impregnated by one Aaron from our neighbourhood.
She got sick and would just fall down as if possessed by evil spirits.
Her father consulted prophets from his congregation and later took her to Bikita for more prayers.
He left Nokutenda in the hands of the intercessors and she died while giving birth at the shrine.
The church doctrine did not allow us to take Nokutenda to a clinic, or hospital, to give birth or for any medical treatment.
I failed to accompany them to Bikita because I was also due to deliver and I had a miscarriage at Norton General Hospital on the day Nokutenda passed away.
</blockquote>
Nokutenda’s death echoes the death of 14-year-old Anna Machaya who died while giving birth in Marange in July 2021 and that of 15-year-old Ferby Munyafi of Chiadzwa Village in Marange who died in January 2022 from excessive bleeding while delivering.
Hatirarami Momberume alias Evans Michael Momberume, a devotee of the Johane Marange apostolic sect has been charged with Anna’s murder.
Anna’s parents, Edmore Machaya (45) and Shy Mabika (36) were jailed for nine months each – wholly suspended – for lying to detectives about her age.
Ferby died on 12 January 2022 and police charged her “husband” 29-year-old Arthur Chitombo with having sexual relations with a minor.

Girl (15) Who Died While Giving Birth At Church Shrine Buried

The baby of Anna Machaya, the girl who died at the age of 14 while giving birth at a Johane Marange Apostolic Church Shrine in Mafararikwa, is dead.
Contrary to reports claiming that Anna left behind a baby boy, the infant died on the same day his mother passed away.
Alice Mabika, Anna’s aunt who exposed her niece’s death last year in July, first announced the child’s death on her WhatsApp status last Saturday before she confirmed the development in a telephone interview with The Manica Post. She said:
<blockquote>
It is true that Anna’s son died on the day his mother passed on. The coincidence left us devastated.
We are still to gather more details regarding the child’s death as the Machayas were away attending the church’s annual Passover gathering in Mafararikwa.
We heard that the child was in the custody of Anna’s aunt at their Kwekwe plot when he died.
We are not privy to details on the cause of his death as well as his burial as the Machayas are yet to furnish us with them.
What hurts most is that we wanted to celebrate the baby’s first birthday, only to receive the news of his death.
We do not know the whereabouts of the child’s father since his release from remand prison last year.
</blockquote>
The baby’s father, Hatirarame Evans Momberume (27), was arrested and charged with murder and having a sexual relationship with a minor.
He, however, absconded after being granted $50 000 bail by the Mutare High Court.
As a result, Mutare provincial magistrate, Mr Richard Ramaboa, issued a warrant of arrest for Momberume following his failure to appear in court.
Momberume’s lawyer, Brian Majamanda of Khupe and Jara Law Chambers, said he last spoke to his client last year in September when he informed him about the bail and his next court date.
Meanwhile, Anna’s parents, Edmore Machaya and Shy Mabika are facing charges of obstructing or defeating the course of justice.
The couple allegedly lied about the girl’s age and identity and gave the investigation officers someone else’s identity card.
They told the police that Anna was born on January 2, 1999, and the mother went on to give the investigators a national identity card belonging to a relative, Memory Machaya.
However, the police managed to obtain the late Anna’s correct birth certificate copies and also established that Memory Machaya was alive and married to Lameck Makonye.
More: <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/anna-machayas-baby-dies/">The Manica Post</a>

Anna Machaya’s Baby Dies

Police officers were on Thursday reportedly blocked from exhuming the body of child bride Anna Machaya, who died whilst giving birth at a Johanne Marange Apostolic sect shrine in Marange in July last year.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers were barred from accessing the shrine at Mafararikwa village.
Anna, who was 14, was illegally buried at the shrine in an apparent bid to conceal her death as the “marriage” and nature of her death had legal consequences for those involved.
The police officers were armed with an exhumation order to recover Anna’s remains as part of their investigations into her death.
Her husband, Hatirarami Momberume alias Evans Michael Momberume, who is in his late twenties, has been charged with her murder.
When contacted for a comment by ZimLive, ZRP national spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was out of office and did not have details of the incident. But an unnamed police officer told the publication:
<blockquote>
The church’s leader Noah Taguta sent his devotees to tell the officers that they should bring authorisation from the president [Emmerson Mnangagwa].
He did not recognise the exhumation order signed by the district administrator. He runs the shrine as if it’s an embassy, he’s the law.
</blockquote>
Taguta, who styles himself as a “high priest” of his church, receives senior government officials at his shrine from time to time.
Even President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been a visitor to the shrine and Taguta has spoken publicly of his support for the ZANU PF party.
Anna died on 16 July last year from excessive bleeding, hours after she gave birth at the shrine near Mutare.
Congregants buried her at the shrine without a burial order.
In January this year, Anna’s parents Edmore Machaya, 45, and his wife Shy Mabika, 36, were jailed for nine months each after being convicted on charges of defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
They were charged after they lied to police investigators that Anna’s name was Memory Machaya, to conceal the fact that she was a minor.
They also claimed that Anna was born on 2 January 1999, which would have made her 22 when she died.
Police however established that the deceased teenager’s name was Anna Machaya, and she was born on 5 July 2006.
That was after the police obtained a copy of the dead girl’s birth certificate from Wanganui High School where she was a student before she got married to Momberume.
Anna had been forced to drop out of school whilst doing Form 2 after falling pregnant and her parents married her off to Momberume.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/2022/02/10/johane-marange-devotees-block-police-from-exhuming-child-bride-anna-machaya/">ZimLive</a></h4>

Police Blocked From Exhuming Anna Machaya's Remains

The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) on Wednesday called for an end to child marriages and for severe punishment to be meted on perpetrators.
ZGC chief executive Virginia Muwanigwa bemoaned the arrest of offenders without punitive conviction. She said:
<blockquote>
We must put to an end other forms of child sexual and economic abuse that lies in gender inequality that undervalues girls.
Forced marriages are unacceptable and perpetrators must be punished.
</blockquote>
This comes as Women Affairs, Community and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni minister Sithembiso Nyoni has called for the arrest of a Sanyati couple who married off their 15-year-old daughter to a Chinese national.
Nyoni also called for the arrest of the Chinese national who reportedly paid US$2 000 as bride price on 26 November.
The death of 14-year-old Memory Machaya during childbirth at a Johanne Masowe shrine in Marange in July brought to the fore the abuse of the girl child through child marriages.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/12/end-forced-child-marriages-zgc/">NewsDay</a></h4>

Gender Commission Calls For End To Child Marriages

A magistrate on Tuesday issued a warrant of arrest for Johanne Marange Apostolic sect child molester Hatirarami Momberume after he failed to appear in court.
Momberume, (26), who is facing a murder charge, defaulted his appearance before Manicaland provincial magistrate Richard Ramaboure, raising fears he may have skipped bail.
Prosecutor Talent Nyamuzuwe asked the court to issue a warrant of arrest against the alleged paedophile after his failure to appear for trial.
Momberume’s lawyer, Brian Majamanda of Khupe and Chijara Law Chambers earlier told the court that his client was facing transport challenges to travel from his home at Mafararikwa Village to court.
However, Momberume never turned up, resulting in the arrest warrant being issued.
Momberume impregnated an underage girl, Annah Machaya, who died while giving birth on 15 July this year at the church’s shrine in Marange, Manicaland Province.
He was charged for causing Annah’s death by impregnating her and failing to take her to receive healthcare services during her labour.
Momberume was granted $50 000 bail by High Court judge Justice Isaac Muzenda after spending some time in remand prison.
Annah’s death caused national outrage, prompting debate on the issue of child marriages not only in apostolic sects but across the country.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/marange-pedophile-on-the-run-warrant-of-arrest-issued/">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

Marange Child Molester Skips Bail, Magistrate Issues Arrest Warrant

High Court judge Justice Isaac Muzenda on Thursday granted $50 000 bail to <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Hatirarami_Momberume">Hatirarami Momberume</a>, who is facing murder charges after his 14-year-old bride died while giving birth.
<a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/07/28/a-14-year-old-girl-dies-giving-birth-at-shrine/">Anna Machaya died on July 15 this year</a> during labour at a church shrine in Marange, Manicaland province.
Justice Muzenda questioned why the State preferred murder charges and said the State should prove the essential elements of murder in Momberume’s case before granting him bail.
Part of his bail conditions included residing at Marange St Noah College until the matter is finalised, reporting to Bambazonke Police Station every week and not interfering with witnesses.
He will be back in the regional court on December 7 for trial.
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.
Momberume was represented by Brian Majamanda of Khupe and Chijara Law Chambers.
According to the State, Momberume unlawfully caused the death of Machaya by failing to take her to a medical facility to receive healthcare services during labour.
Momberume, instead, took Machaya to Johanne Marange traditional midwives, where she delivered and died after some labour complications.
He hid the news of her death and proceeded to bury her without notifying authorities.
In order to cover up the offence, the accused and his relatives claimed that the person who had died was Memory Machaya born on January 2, 1999.

<ul>
<li><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/08/19/memory-machaya-is-alive-police-speak-on-death-of-pregnant-minor-at-shrine-full-text/">Memory Machaya Is Alive, Police Speak On Death Of Pregnant Minor At Shrine</a></li>
</ul>
Investigations later revealed that the person who was married to the accused was, indeed, Anna and not Memory, leading to his arrest. 
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/11/deceased-minors-hubby-out-on-bail/">NewsDay</a>

Husband Of Deceased 14-year-old Anna Machaya Released On Bail

The Government has opposed a High Court application filed by child rights activists seeking to compel the Johane Marange Apostolic Church to launch a campaign against child marriages within the sect.
The application was filed by Masvingo resident Sharon Moffat, Legal Resource Foundation and Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe early this month.
The applicants stated that they wanted the Marange Apostolic Church and the Apostolic Churches Council to display anti-child marriage messages at every place of worship or shrine for 19 consecutive weeks.
The Marange Apostolic Church of St Johane and the Apostolic Churches Council were cited as the first and second defendants respectively.
Vice-President and Health minister Constantino Chiwenga, Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe, Women’s Affairs minister Sithembiso Nyoni, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe Gender Commission and Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission were also cited as third to ninth defendants respectively in the matter.
In their plea, the government ministers opposed the application describing it as unnecessary, further stating that they had taken all the necessary steps required at law to curb child marriages. They said:
<blockquote>
Defendants plead that all the legislative and other steps required at law have been taken to stop child marriages and enforcement of the same is being taken as occasions require.
Accordingly, defendants submit that the relief sought here against either some or all of them is misplaced, unnecessary and incompetent and should be denied by this honourable court.
</blockquote>
The applicants want the Marange Apostolic Church of St Johane and the Apostolic Churches Council, to display a message stating that the marrying off and marrying of young girls is not part of their sects’ doctrines, and hence should not take place in the name of religion.
The matter is yet to be heard.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/10/govt-rejects-anti-child-marriage-campaign/">NewsDay</a></h4>

Govt Refuses To Railroad Apostolic Sects On Child Marriages

The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) has initiated investigations into child marriages and sexual exploitation occurring mainly within the Apostolic Church sect.
In a statement on Wednesday, the commission confirmed it would be investigating cases of sexual abuse and child marriages in the Apostolic Church sect.
This comes after 14-year-old Anna Machaya, a member of the Johanne Marange Apostolic Church, died in July this year while giving birth at the sect’s shrine in Marange, Manicaland province.
The man who impregnated the minor, Hatirarame Momberume and Machaya’s parents, Edmore Machaya and Rachel Mabika were all arrested.
Meanwhile, ZGC announced that it intends to investigate complaints of the institutionalisation of sexual exploitation and abuses of girls and child marriages in Apostolic sects in the country.
The commission also called for submissions from the public of evidence that may assist it in its investigations.
It said submissions should be delivered to the commission’s offices First Floor Pax House in Harare before 25 October 2021.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/gender-commission-probes-child-marriages/">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

Gender Commission Probes Child Marriages In Apostolic Sects

A man from the Glaudina area, between Harare and Norton, has reportedly gone into hiding fearing arrest after impregnating his 14-year-old girlfriend.
The culprit is 21-year-old, Tapiwa Muza, and the girl is reported to be four months pregnant and has dropped out of school.
The girl’s mother, who is based in South Africa heard about her daughter’s pregnancy and threatened to take legal action against Muza who stays with his grandmother in Glaudina.
Muza told H-Metro that he is living in fear over the threats of arrest he received and was at a safe house in Domboshava.
The girl’s mother told the same publication that she approached Dzivaresekwa police station for assistance with a view to taking her daughter from Muza.
She claimed Muza forced her daughter to switch off her mobile phone and instructed her to go to Chitungwiza where she collected her belongings and disappeared to an unknown place after they learnt that she (the mother) was in the country. She said:
<blockquote>
That forced me to seek guidance from police at Dzivaresekwa and the officers led me to Glaudina where Muza and the daughter were reported to have been in hiding.
I cannot allow my daughter to marry at that age and I am prepared to take her.
</blockquote>
Muza’s uncle Elisha Marumahoko said the girl’s mother instructed them to keep the girl away from Muza until she arrives in the country. Said Marumahoko:
<blockquote>
I was shocked to see her coming in the company of police officers demanding to see the girl and Muza.
Muza is in Domboshava and the whereabouts of the girl is not known since the day she went to her mother in Chitungwiza.
We are aware that Muza impregnated a minor and it’s a case but the girl’s mother failed to be honest with her real decision.
</blockquote>
Muza confirmed to H-Metro that he was staying in Domboshava and living in fear. He said:
<blockquote>
I am prepared to marry the girl… I am not abusing her as alleged but I fear arrest over impregnating the minor.
</blockquote>
The mother also revealed that she separated from her daughter’s father when she was only two years old.
The issue of child marriages has been in the spotlight of late after Annah Machaya, a 14-year-old girl, died during childbirth at a Johanne Marange Apostolic sect shrine in Bocha.
Anna’s husband, Hatirarami “Evans” Momberume was arrested and his cases are pending before the courts.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/man-hides-14-year-old-pregnant-wife/">H-Metro</a></h4>

Man Conceals 14-year-old Pregnant 'Wife'

A Johanne Marange Apostolic sect member Hatirarami Momberume (26) who is facing charges of murder and having sexual intercourse with a minor has been remanded in custody to 17 September.
Momberume, who is being represented by Brian Majamanda of Khuphe and Chijara Law Associates, appeared in prison garbs before Magistrate Prisca Manhibi on Friday and was not asked to plead.
On 20 August, he appeared before regional Magistrate Lucy-Anne Mungwari who remanded him in custody to 3 September.
The state, represented by Tirivanhu Mutyasira and Jonathan Chingwinyiso, alleged that Momberume had sexual intercourse with a minor.
The state further alleged on an unknown date in 2020, the accused fell in love with the now-deceased Anna Machaya, knowing she was born on 5 July 2006. The prosecutors said:
<blockquote>
On a date unknown but in April 2021, Anna Machaya eloped to the accused and they started staying together purportedly as husband and wife.
During the period extending 2020 to 15 July 2021, the accused had sexual intercourse with Anna Machaya leading to Anna falling pregnant and gave birth to a baby on 15 July 2021 at Johanne Marange Apostolic Church shrine.
</blockquote>
On the murder count, the state says the accused unlawfully caused the death of Anna Machaya by impregnating her and failing to take her to receive healthcare services during her labour. Said Mutyasira:
<blockquote>
Instead, the accused person took Annah Machaya to Johanne Marange traditional midwives where she delivered and died after some labour complications.
He thereafter secretly buried her without notifying the authorities of her death.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/marange-pedophile-to-remain-in-custody/">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

Johanne Marange "Paedophile" To Remain In Custody

Hatirarami alias Evans Momberume will be back in court this Friday on murder and sleeping with a minor charges following the death of his “wife”, 14-year-old Anna “Memory” Machaya who died at the Johanne Marange Apostolic Church in Marange in July.
Momberume was not asked to plead to murder and having sexual intercourse with a minor charges when he recently appeared before Mutare regional magistrate, Lucie-Anne Mungwari.
The magistrate remanded him in custody to today (3 September).
Tirivanhu Mutyasira and Jonathan Chingwinyiso appeared for the State, while Brian Majamanda of Khupe and Chijara Law Chambers represented Momberume.
It is the State’s case that Momberume caused the death of the girl by impregnating her and failing to take her to a proper health institution to receive healthcare services. Said Mutyasira:
<blockquote>
Instead, the accused person took Annah Machaya to Johanne Marange traditional midwives where she delivered and died after some labour complications.
He thereafter secretly buried her without notifying the authorities of her death.
</blockquote>
On the other count, Momberume is said to have impregnated Annah and stayed with her as his wife.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/machayas-hubby-back-in-court/">Manica Post</a></h4>

Anna "Memory" Machaya's Husband Back In Court

Child marriages are not a Johanne Marange Apostolic sect issue but a national pandemic, Proportional Representation legislator Ruth Labode has said.
Speaking in the National Assembly during the debate on child marriages, Labode said the focus should not be given to the Marange case only. She said:
<blockquote>
The Minister, about early this year, came to Parliament and gave a report of over 5 000 girls who had become pregnant on a period of three months. These are all below 15 and 16. 
Currently, Mr Speaker Sir, if you go round all maternity homes where children are delivering. Even the statistics within the Ministry, there are 14, 15 and 16-year-olds.
So, when we are talking of child marriages, let us not isolate it as if it is a Marange thing, it is a national epidemic, and we really need to deal with it in that form.
First of all, we must say what is causing a normal mother to want to marry off a 14-year-old, let us forget about Marange, it is poverty.
</blockquote>
According to Labode, poverty is forcing people to marry off their daughters for fear that they will be impregnated. She said:
<blockquote>
People are unemployed, parents cannot pay school fees and they opt to marry them out. If they do not marry them out, they go out there and get pregnant.
</blockquote>
In her response, the Minister of Women Affairs Sithembiso Nyoni said her ministry has already started engaging stakeholders on the issue. Said Nyoni:
<blockquote>
As a Ministry, we have already started. We had a meeting in Mbire in which we had all stakeholders there. These included chiefs, teachers, the children themselves and parents. This was well received.
</blockquote>
The debate on child marriages was ignited by the death of Anna Machaya, a 15-year-old girl who died at a Marange apostolic shrine on 15 July during childbirth.
<h4>More: <a href="https://openparly.com/index.php/2021/08/19/child-marriages-are-not-a-marange-issue-but-a-national-pandemic/">Open Parly</a></h4>

Child Marriages Not A Marange Issue But A National Pandemic - Labode

A 26-year-old man who was recently arrested after his underage wife died during childbirth was charged with her murder on Friday after appearing before a court in Mutare, ZimLive reported.
Prosecutors said Hatirarami Momberume of Taguta Farm in Kwekwe “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.”
Instead of taking his child bride to a hospital, Momberume allegedly took Anna 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 15 July this year 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 3 September.
Tirivanhu Mutyasiri appeared for the National Prosecuting Authority.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/2021/08/20/man-charged-with-murder-of-his-child-bride-who-died-while-giving-birth/">ZimLive</a></h4>

Momberume Charged With Murder Of Anna Machaya Who Died During Childbirth

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) says investigations into the alleged death of a 14-year-old girl at a Johanne Marange Apostolic sect shrine in Marange on 15 July have established that the late teenager is Anna Machaya, and not Memory Machaya as has been reported.
Anna Machaya, born on the 5th July 2006, was married to Hatirarami  Momberume (26), and her cousin Memory, born on 2nd January 1999, is alive and married to Lameck Makonye alias Sigodhla (54) in Mhondoro.
Below is a statement by national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi which Pindula News is publishing in full:
<blockquote>
ARREST OF HATIRARAMI MOMBERUME IN CONNECTION WITH THE PREGNANCY AND DEATH OF A MINOR AT MARANGE SHRINE
The Zimbabwe Republic Police wish to thank the public for their patience and space which allowed the Police to conduct investigations into the alleged death of Memory Machaya at Mafararikwa Village, Marange while giving birth in July 2021.
The Police has indeed conducted comprehensive investigations culminating in the arrest of Hatirarami Momberume (26) alias Evans Momberume.
The minor who died, in this case, is Anna Machaya, born on 5th July 2006 and not Memory Machaya born on 2nd January 1999.
It is correct that Anna Machaya died on 15th July 2021 and was buried at the shrine after experiencing complications while giving birth.
The police are also pressing criminal charges against Anna Machaya’s father, Edmore Machaya (45) and mother Shy Mabika (36) for obstructing or defeating the course of justice. The parents openly lied to the Police that Anna Machaya was born on 2nd January 1999.
The mother went on to give Police investigators a national identity card in a bid to prove that she was born on 2nd January 1999. This was false.
Investigations have revealed that the identity card produced to the police belonged to a namesake of the late minor who is a daughter of Ernest Machaya. This is an uncle to the late Anna Machaya.
It is through school records in Mhondoro that the Police actually proved that the late Anna Machaya was born on 5th July 2006 to Edmore Machaya and Shy Mabika.
The Police has obtained the correct birth certificate copies in respect of Memory Machaya (22) and the late Anna Machaya (15). These are two different people with different mothers and fathers.
Memory Machaya is alive and currently married to Lameck Makonye alias Sigodhla (54) in Mhondoro.
Hatirarami Momberume is facing charges of rape or alternatively contravening section 70 of the Code.
The late Anna Machaya’s parents will face charges of pledging a minor after trying to hand over another minor aged nine years to the suspect.
Investigations are in progress with a view of unravelling all the facts in this case.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police urges all Zimbabweans to be law-abiding citizens and engage in lawful activities.
Anyone who tries to interfere with Police investigations will face the full wrath of the law.
(NYATHI. P) Assistant Commissioner 
Senior Staff Officer (Press, Public and Int. Relations) 
to the Commissioner-General of Police 
Police General Headquarters
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

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