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In 2023, more than 4,500 learners in Zimbabwe dropped out of school due to pregnancy, including at least 150 in primary school.
These alarming statistics were disclosed by Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Edgar Moyo during a parliamentary session on Wednesday, in response to questions from lawmakers.
In reply to Mashonaland West Proportional Representative MP Mutsa Murombedzi, who inquired about the government’s initiatives to address school dropouts, Minister Moyo said:
<blockquote>
The ministry collects and collates such data on an annual basis and it is recorded in our Education Management Information System report shared with all stakeholders.
Therefore, for the year ending December 2023, 4 557 girls dropped out of school due to pregnancy, the majority of these (3 942) being from rural schools.
134 girls dropped out of primary school as a result of pregnancy, meaning that the majority of dropouts were recorded in secondary schools.
</blockquote>
Minister Moyo said the Ministry has introduced several measures such as career guidance and counselling to arrest the scourge of school dropouts, especially among pregnant girls. He said:
<blockquote>
Through the Education Act, the ministry has also ensured that legal provisions are there to enable girls who fall pregnant to continue with their education.
</blockquote>
The Minister also said several measures have been instituted to protect girls from stigma when they return to school after giving birth. He said:
<blockquote>
On the issue of stigma, we have done a lot of awareness campaigns and also, we have done a lot of dissemination of information in encouraging all the girls who fall pregnant.
It is now their right to education, so they are supposed to go back to school. I do not think we have any challenges for students who have not been — perhaps (they) have received a lot of criticism from their peers for going back to school. So, precisely, quite a number of students have been accepted back and have gone back to school.
</blockquote>
Minister Moyo said according to the Education Amendment Act of 2020, girls should not drop out of school for the reason that they are pregnant. He said:
<blockquote>
After giving a normal birth, the girl is allowed back to school and that is according to the Constitution. So, we encourage those technical and vocational skills to be equipped for all students regardless of whether one has dropped out or not.
We carry out some fairs with our partners, where we see that provinces encourage girls who might have dropped out to go back to school.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

In 2023, more than 4,500 schoolchildren in Zimbabwe left school because they got pregnant, and 150 of them were in primary school. The Education Minister shared this information in a meeting with lawmakers. The government is trying to help pregnant girls stay in school by offering counseling and support. A new law says that girls should not stop going to school just because they are pregnant. The government is also working to stop teasing and make it easier for pregnant girls to return to school after having a baby.

Over 4,500 Zimbabwean Schoolchildren Fell Pregnant In 2023

More than 4 000 girls aged between 10 and 14 years fell pregnant and were booked to deliver babies at health institutions in Zimbabwe between 2019 and 2021.
This was revealed in the National Assessment on Adolescent Pregnancies in Zimbabwe report based on a study by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in conjunction with UNICEF and UNESCO. <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/over-4-000-girls-below-14-give-birth">Part of the report reads</a>:
<blockquote>
An estimated 1 706 946 ANC (antenatal care) bookings were made in 1 560 health care facilities captured in the DHIS (Demographic and Health Survey) platform across the study period (four years, January 2019 to December 2022).
Of these 0,2 percent (4 070) were among the age groups 10-14 years; 21 percent (355 962) among 15-19 years; 28 percent (473 475) among the 20-24 years; 21 percent (357 328) among the 25-29 and 30 percent (516 111) above 30 years.
2021 had the highest number of pregnant adolescent girls aged 10-14 years.
21 percent of ANC booking from 2019-2022 were among adolescents aged 10-19 years.
</blockquote>
The report attributes the increasing incidences of pregnancy among adolescents to the closure of schools and a reported rise in cases of domestic violence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the report, a total of 1 532 maternal deaths were recorded and of these, 376 (25 percent) were among adolescents and young women under 24 years between 2019 and 2021.
Some of the pregnant adolescent girls were testing positive for HIV upon booking at antenatal clinics. Says the report:
<blockquote>
Of the estimated 50 957 pregnant women newly testing HIV positive, 0,1 percent were among adolescents aged 10-14 years.
About 0,2 percent of adolescents aged 10-14 years old tested HIV positive in 2021, compared to 0,04 percent in 2019; 0,1 percent in 2020; and 0,04 percent in 2022.
</blockquote>
The study also found that 30 percent of adolescent girls were sexually active, with about 31 percent (134) reported having had forced intercourse in their first sexual encounter.
The report revealed that approximately 75 percent (315) of the first sexual encounter was with boyfriends, only 23 percent (97) with husbands, 1,5 percent (10) with strangers, 0,8 percent (6) with relatives, and 0,1 percent (2) with casual partners.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Over 4 000 Girls Below 14 Fell Pregnant Between 2019 And 2021

The Government has reiterated its stance that pregnant girls should be allowed to continue with their education. 
In a statement on Monday 08 May, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education also said learners should not be denied education because of the non-payment of school fees by their parents or guardians. Said the Ministry:
<blockquote>
Every child has a right to an education. As schools open today policy says…
No child shall be turned away from school for non-payment of fees.
Fees payment is to be made in a currency of one’s choice at the official exchange rate.
Pregnant girls must be allowed to continue with their education.
</blockquote>
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has issued guidelines that provide for the re-entry of pregnant girls into school after delivery.
The guidelines state that pregnant girls who drop out of school due to their pregnancy should be allowed to resume their studies at a suitable time after giving birth.
Schools are required to provide support to these girls, including counseling services, flexible academic programmess, and access to health care services.
The policy also prohibits schools from subjecting pregnant girls to any form of discrimination, harassment, or stigmatisation.
The policy also states that denying them access to education can lead to serious consequences, such as perpetuating the cycle of poverty, limiting their future opportunities, and increasing their vulnerability to early marriage, sexual exploitation, and other forms of abuse.
However, some traditionalists argue that allowing pregnant girls to return to school after delivery “encourages” girls to indulge in sexual intercourse at a tender age and erodes the moral fabric of society.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Govt Reiterates Stance On Pregnant School Girls

The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Loreto_High_School">Loreto High School</a> Form Three pupil who recently gave birth at the school hostel is set to return to class.
The learner went into labour at the school’s box room last week and delivered a bouncing baby with the assistance of the health focal teachers before being taken to Silobela Hospital for further assistance.
The 15-year-old girl’s parents were later informed of the incident and they took her home in Gweru where she is reportedly in good health.
Government policy is that girls who give birth are allowed to return to school and continue with their education.
<h2>What they said</h2>
Loreto High School headmaster Phillip Mapiravana said the pupil was free to return to school and continue with her education. He said:
<blockquote>
The girl is welcome to return to school whenever she feels that she is ready.
We are guided by the Education Amendment Act of 2020 which makes it a fundamental right to access education even after giving birth.
</blockquote>
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson, Taungana Ndoro said:
<blockquote>
We have dispatched our learner welfare department to provide socio-psycho support to the pupil as well as other pupils at the school.
Our Education Amendment Act makes it mandatory for every learner to access education.
</blockquote>
Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education chairperson Torerai Moyo said:
<blockquote>
The learner goes on leave for maybe two to three weeks upon giving birth and then resumes classes. Her fundamental right to education is guaranteed.
She must feel comfortable in class because her rights are enshrined in the Constitution.
The girl should not be stigmatised when she returns to class. The Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education however urges pupils to abstain from sex which results in early pregnancies.
</blockquote>
Pediatrician, Dr Crispen Ngwenya, who is also Zimbabwe Medical Association (ZIMA) Midlands Chapter president, said:
<blockquote>
We might need to give her enough time for her to come to terms with the situation and find herself again. She needs to rest for a long period because this is a complicated issue.
</blockquote>
He added that while normal maternity leave is about 90 days, the pupil might require a year or so before she resumes lessons.
Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe Kwekwe Chapter chairperson, Roswitter Matsveru said:
<blockquote>
I think it’s good that the parents have considered readmitting the child back to school although I feel that they should try and find another school for her because she will not cope.
</blockquote>
Chief Weight Gwesela said men who engage in sexual relations with underage girls should be punished severely. He said:
<blockquote>
We should be educating our society about the dangers of sexually abusing children. 
We should impose harsh sentences and for me, I take these matters seriously and will continue to fight in the corner of the Girl Child.
</blockquote>
The girl reportedly transferred to Loreto High School at the beginning of the Third Term last year.
Therefore, chances are high that she was already pregnant when she enrolled at the Roman Catholic-run boarding school. | <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/kwekwe-girl-to-return-to-class/">Chronicle</a>

Kwekwe Girl (15) Who Gave Birth At School To Return To Class

An unnamed girl was allegedly impregnated by a Member of Parliament and when she came to Parliament to confront the alleged father, she was impregnated by another legislator.
This was said by Norton MP, Temba Mliswa (Independent), as he interrupted the debate on the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission preliminary delimitation report in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Mliswa challenged male legislators to be responsible and support their children when they impregnate girls. He said:
<blockquote>
Mr. Speaker, my point of order which I would like the male Members of Parliament to pay attention to is: I received a family today who needed my assistance.
They have a daughter who was impregnated by a Member of Parliament. When she came here to seek assistance from another Member of Parliament, she was impregnated again.
I had asked them to put them in black and white. I do not know the Members of Parliament but just for you to know. 
Members of Parliament who are male must be responsible.
I will be putting this letter on social media and I would like the Members of Parliament who are involved to quickly support them.
We cannot be seen to be abusing children and making them pregnant. Those children need to eat.
If you are not able to support a child, do not have a child. Stop abusing the girl child.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://insiderzim.com/girl-impregnated-by-two-zimbabwe-mps/">Insider</a>

“Girl” Impregnated By Two Zimbabwe MPs, Says Mliswa

The nine-year-old girl from Tsholotsho District who gave birth in November last year was expected to return to school and resume her education when the 2023 first term commenced this week.
Acting Matabeleland North Provincial Social Development Officer Golden Mapanga told the Sunday News that the Government will cater for her fees and other educational requirements.
Mapanga said the girl was returning to an undisclosed school where she would do Grade Four.
The school will not be disclosed as a means of protecting the girl from discrimination. Said Mapanga:
<blockquote>
According to the care plan devised by the probation officer, the nine-year-old is returning to school at the beginning of the first term to continue with her education.
It is our mandate and responsibility to administer the Children’s Act so that this child gets all the needs due to her hence she is returning to school.
Case conferencing was done over this matter. When we case conference, we bring together responsible stakeholders who make up what we call a Best Interests Determination Panel.
These people devise a plan of how a particular issue can be dealt with and with the Tsholotsho case this is what happened, the stakeholders met and discussed how to handle the matter.
Alternative care is available for the nine-year-old in the future which is institutional or foster care and as schools open the child will be in alternative care.
The Government is going to pay for her school fees and other needs that are required.
We are trying, by all means, to protect this child and ensure she is not stigmatised hence she will not return to her old school but to a new one at a safe location.
</blockquote>
The girl’s father was arrested and spent several weeks in jail on suspicion of raping the minor but was later exonerated by DNA tests conducted after the baby was born.
The DNA test results showed that the nine-year-old was impregnated by her 13-year-old cousin. | <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/tsholotsho-girl-to-return-to-school/">The Sunday News</a>

9-year-old Tsholotsho Girl Returns To School

The father of a 9-year-old Tsholotsho girl who got pregnant and later gave birth last month has finally been freed by the courts <a href="https://cite.org.zw/court-frees-father-of-9-year-old-tsholotsho-girl/">reported CITE</a>.
The girl from Masekesa Village under Chief Gampu was eight years old when she fell pregnant.
Her father was arrested for rape following allegations that he would tell the girl that there were some creatures (goblins) that entered through the window and slept with her.
The girl later gave birth to a baby girl via cesarean section at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) where she was being attended to by specialists.
DNA tests conducted by the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) to ascertain the father of the newly-born baby showed that the father was not responsible for her daughter’s pregnancy.
Instead, DNA results proved that the minor was impregnated by her 13-year-old cousin.
In his ruling, Dzira said the court has no reason to hold him as the recent DNA results from NUST exonerated him. Said Dzira:
<blockquote>
The state has decided to set you free since the DNA results from NUST have proven you innocent. The court hereby withdraws the charges laid against you.
</blockquote>

Magistrate Frees Father Of 9-year-old Tsholotsho Girl

The director of Women and Law in Southern Africa, Fadzai Traquino, has said the 13-year-old boy who allegedly raped and impregnated his nine-year-old cousin in Tsholotsho should be assessed to determine his maturity and state of mind.
Police on Saturday said DNA tests confirmed that the Tsholotsho girl’s cousin was responsible for her pregnancy, exonerating the girl’s father who was initially accused of the offence.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/13-year-old-father-to-be-assessed">The Sunday Mail</a>, Traquino said while the law provides for the prosecution of boys under the age of 14 for sexual offences, the boy should first be assessed before police formally press charges. She said:
<blockquote>
The Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act states that males from 12 years can be charged with rape. However, before the courts take that route, a number of issues have to be looked into.
Because of the age of the accused, the law allows for a divergent programme where a probation or social welfare officer, with the assistance of a doctor, will question and examine the accused to determine if it was rape or it was consensual intercourse.
The assessment will also determine the accused’s maturity and his state of mind. This will include if the accused, since he is also a minor, was being sexually abused himself or if he was not exposed to pornography. Only a social welfare report can determine the case forward.
</blockquote>
In a statement issued on Saturday, 26 November,  Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) results obtained from National University of Science and Technology on 25 November 2022, in connection with the paternity of the nine-year old’s child have established that the victim’s cousin brother (13) is the father of the child.
The nine-year-old complainant and the suspect will receive appropriate counselling from the Police’s Victim Friendly Unit (VFU).
The police is now working with other relevant arms of the Government to ensure that the due processes of the law are followed.
</blockquote>

"13-year-old Father Should Be Assessed To Determine His Maturity"

The nine-year-old girl from Tsholotsho who recently gave birth was impregnated by her 13-year-old cousin, police have revealed.
In a statement this Saturday, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Senior Staff Officer (Press and Public Relations) Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the father of the child was identified after DNA tests were conducted. Said Asst Insp Nyathi:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) results obtained from the National University of Science and Technology on 25th November 2022, in connection with the paternity of the 9-year-old girl’s child have established that the victim’s cousin brother (13) is the father of the child.
The 9-year-old complainant and the suspect will now receive the appropriate counseling from the Police’s Victim Friendly Unit (VFU).
The Police is now working with other relevant arms of the government to ensure that the due processes of the law are followed.
</blockquote>

Man Who Impregnated 9-year-old Tsholotsho Girl Finally Identified

DNA tests to establish the paternity of the child born by the nine-year-old Tsholotsho girl have shown that her father, who is the prime suspect, is not the newborn’s biological father.
<a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/dna-test-exonerates-father-in-nine-year-olds-pregnancy-saga/">The Sunday News</a> reported sources close to the matter on Friday morning saying the abused girl’s father has been exonerated by the DNA test results.
However, medical experts said the tests do not say the father did not rape his daughter but only prove that he is not the father of the baby. Said the source:
<blockquote>
Yes, the DNA results came out negative and now the real search for the father (of the newly born) begins. It is now a complex matter.
</blockquote>
The father to the nine-year-old was arrested by the police on 29 August when it was discovered that the minor was pregnant.
The minor failed to reveal the identity of her abuser prompting authorities to resort to using DNA tests to see if the accused was indeed the father of the baby that was born a few weeks ago.
Meanwhile, the National University of Science and Technology’s (NUST) Applied Genetic Testing Centre (AGTC) on Thursday denied reports it had concluded the DNA tests.
NUST director Zephaniah Dhlamini told the <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/pregnant-9-year-old-dna-tests-not-yet-concluded/">Chronicle</a> that they had yet to conclude the DNA tests. Dhlamini was quoted as saying:
<blockquote>
We don’t know who generated that message, it can be disruptive to the investigation.
We are yet to conclude our tests and we request that we be allowed to do work without any sideshows.
What is the intention of sending such incorrect information before investigations are concluded?
</blockquote>

DNA Test Show That Father Of 9-year-old Girl Is Not Responsible For The Pregnancy

The eight-year-old girl from a farm in Bindura, who was raped and impregnated allegedly by two teenage brothers from the same farm, started menstruating at just nine months, it has emerged.
The girl’s mother on Friday told <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/raped-pregnant-8-year-old-the-facts/">The Herald</a> that she started to change her daughter’s blood-stained nappies when she was a nine-months-old baby. She said:
<blockquote>
At nine months my baby changed and started menstruating. I was in Marondera where I went to a hospital.
I was told that the baby was supposed to bleed at three days old and I was supposed to squeeze her breasts.
I was advised to return if the problem persisted. The following month she menstruated and I had to add cotton wool to her nappies. At this time, she was learning to walk.
</blockquote>
In 2017, she separated from her husband and moved with the children to the Chesa area in Mt Darwin.
She went on the radio to seek help and was directed to a traditional healer in Mozambique. She said:
<blockquote>
The problem stopped briefly and resumed. In July the bleeding stopped and I was happy that her problem was over. Had I known earlier, my child could have been assisted.
In all the places where I was seeking help, no one told me that my child is pregnant.
I would leave the children in the custody of my mother for two days as I went to Harare to collect rentals.
Last night I contemplated committing suicide. I am in pain. The future of my child has been destroyed.
All I wish for is to relocate from this area. I cannot imagine her life when she comes back.
</blockquote>
The girl was a learner at Kambira Primary School before she dropped out after falling pregnant.
The headmaster, Gibson Chigamha, insisted that the minor should be taken to Bindura Hospital after he was not convinced that her bulging stomach was due to illness.
This was after the school heard about the Tsholotsho case of a nine-year-old minor who recently gave birth. Said Chigamha:
<blockquote>
When the child joined the school in Grade Two, her mother explained to us that she started menstrual cycles at nine months and she will miss school for three to four days to deal with her periods.
We set aside sanitary pads from our guidance and counselling so that she could use them whenever she needed them.
A few months ago, we were advised that the child was not feeling well and was failing to relieve herself.
… I saw her on Wednesday before class, she was holding a chair. Seeing her body changes I decided to take the child to the hospital and I contacted the mother who agreed.
We were given an uncle to accompany us together with two female teachers.
The teachers were skeptical and were only convinced after they saw a foetus on a pregnancy scan machine.
</blockquote>

"Raped, Pregnant 8-year-old Started Menstrual Cycles At Nine Months"

The nine-year-old girl from Masekesa village in Tsholotsho under Chief Gampu has given birth.
She gave birth to a baby girl on Monday morning via a Caesarean section at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH).
The specialist who was managing the girl at UBH Dr Ellen Takaringwa confirmed the birth. She said:
<blockquote>
The baby was born in the early hours of the morning. Both the baby and mother are fine. We are monitoring the mother as she is in the first crucial hours. The baby was 3 090g and it’s a girl.
</blockquote>
Acting clinical director of the hospital Dr Harrison Rambanapasi said that both the girl and the baby were in stable condition. Said Dr Rambanapasi:
<blockquote>
I wish to inform the nation that our nine-year-old has given birth at UBH. Our specialists performed the C-section in the early hours of today, Monday the 14th.
The outcome is a healthy baby girl with a weight just above 3kg. Both the mother and the baby are in a stable condition.
Once again I would like to thank the team looking after this patient for their hard work and professional conduct throughout.
The pressure was very high as everyone wanted to see the patient but the specialists focused on the needs of the patient and made sure that her right to privacy was protected and upheld.
Even when her Excellency, the First Lady came to see our patient she also emphasised the need to protect this unfortunate girl from the negative repercussions of publicity.
</blockquote>
According to the mother of the nine-year-old, she started menstruating at about seven years.
She then took her to their local clinic in Tsholotsho where she was told it was common owing to the type of food being consumed in the 21st century.
The family then took her to a faith healer who prayed for the girl and the menstruation stopped.
However, her stomach started growing and the mother only sought medical help later and it was discovered the child was over seven months pregnant.
She was initially managed at Mpilo Central Hospital and later transferred to UBH at 32 weeks.
The father of the minor was arrested on 29 August 2022 when it was discovered that she was pregnant.
The girl revealed that her father told her that a goblin would come at night and insert things into her privates.
She also said the “goblin” only came when her father was present. | <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/tsholotsho-girl-gives-birth-both-in-stable-condition/">Chronicle</a>

9-year-old Tsholotsho Girl Gives Birth To Baby Girl

First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa said she was heartbroken when she saw the nine-year-old pregnant girl from Tsholotsho.
Mnangagwa visited the girl on Saturday at a safe house in Bulawayo where she is being kept for monitoring by a team of health experts. She said, as reported by <a href="https://zbcnews.co.zw/2022/11/13/first-lady-visits-the-9-year-old-pregnant-girl/">ZBC News</a>:
<blockquote>
I came to see this baby as a mother and as a grandmother. When I first heard her story I could not believe it because of her age, but I have seen it with my eyes it is true it’s there, and it’s real. As it is she is eight months pregnant.
It really broke my heart and it’s shocking and unbelievable. The law should protect us as women.
As women, we do not take the law into our own hands but we expect the law to protect us and even the courts to help us with such matters.
Now is the time for us to unite and fight for our families and ensure justice is served for the little girl.
I always say as women we should know our kids. These days you just cannot trust anyone with your kids from the dad to the brother. Let’s monitor the well-being of our kids.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, the girl reportedly gave birth at the United Bulawayo Hospitals on Monday morning via a cesarean operation.

"It Really Broke My Heart," First Lady Speaks About Meeting Pregnant Tsholotsho Girl

The nine-year-old Tsholotsho girl, who became the first child in Zimbabwe to get pregnant at the tender age of eight, has given birth at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH).
<a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/9-year-old-tsholotsho-girl-gives-birth/">The Sunday News</a> reported sources as saying the baby was born on Monday morning via a cesarean operation.
The girl was being attended to by a team of specialists from Bulawayo.
Her 29-year-old father was arrested on 29 August when it was discovered that she was pregnant.
The nine-year-old reportedly told her foster parent that she shared a bedroom with her parents and her father told her that a goblin was going to come and “insert something in her private parts” at night. She was quoted as saying:
<blockquote>
… into leyi iyangimangalisa, umama uyavala iwindi elivalela ngaphakathi kodwa ukuthi into leyi ibivula njani ibisingena, angikwazi, kodwa ubaba nguye owaye vala iwindi nxa sekuqedile” (the whole thing confuses me because my mother would close the window at night from inside, but I don’t know how this thing (goblin) would open and come in. But my father would then close the window after it has finished).
</blockquote>

9-year-old Tsholotsho Girl Gives Birth | Report

The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) has offered free deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) tests for the pregnant nine-year-old Tsholotsho girl and her baby once she delivers.
The director of NUST’ Applied Genetic Testing Centre, Zephania Dlamini said it was part of their mandate to assist communities that were facing such crises. He told <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/dna-to-solve-tsholotsho-rape-case/">The Sunday News</a>:
<blockquote>
As a centre of excellence in DNA testing in Zimbabwe, we do have a responsibility to help the community that we are working in. We would be glad to help law enforcement agents to solve this case.
We will do this DNA testing as soon as the child is born, we will liaise with doctors so that we get the DNA samples from the suspect, the nine-year-old and the offspring that she is going to give birth to.
We will gladly conduct the DNA test as our contribution to society without charging them.
</blockquote>
He said since the matter was before the courts, they were waiting for the court to decide whether a DNA test was required, adding that the results would be given to the court officials. Said Dlamini:
<blockquote>
All life forms have genetic materials in the form of DNA. This DNA is inherited by individuals from their parents and human beings and animals usually have two pairs of chromosomes, half a pair comes from the mother and the other half from the father.
With that basically, there are no two individuals that have the same DNA except identical twins who have exactly the same DNA.
With the Tsholotsho case where we hear a nine-year-old is pregnant and the suspect is the father of this child, it is possible to distinguish the DNA of this man in this child who is supposed to be his grandchild and is now allegedly going to be the father.
You must recognise that he gave her only half and the other half is from the mother. So, there are some markers that are found within the father that will also be found in the nine-year-old.
The child to be born will have DNA markers that will be clear from the mother, we will analyse that DNA and then analyse from the suspected father and it will be possible to tell if he is indeed the perpetrator of the rape.
He can be excluded if we do not find his DNA in the child to be born. The importance of this is that we have to test the mother, new-born and the alleged perpetrator and it must match 100 percent with the suspect. It’s a simple case.
</blockquote>
Dlamini explained that not being the father of the to-be-born child would not necessarily exonerate him from having raped her. He said:
<blockquote>
If a person is charged with rape we do the tests and if they come out negative with no DNA match (with the newly born child), it does not mean they did not rape.
It may mean they did not impregnate the victim, but it does not necessarily provide evidence that they did not rape.
DNA cannot prove in that case, it can only exonerate one from being the father but not the rape case.
That one will remain the victim’s word against the perpetrator.
</blockquote>

NUST Offers Free DNA Tests For Impregnated 9-year-old Tsholotsho Girl

The pregnant nine-year-old girl from Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North province, has opened up about the sexual abuse by “a goblin”, it has emerged.
According to her foster parent, the girl doesn’t know that she is pregnant but believes she has an illness.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/pregnant-nine-year-old-girl-opens-up-on-rape-ordeal/">The Sunday News</a>, the foster parent said in the first days she would cry a lot, but now they have developed a bond. She said:
<blockquote>
She came in with the Social Welfare Department in August. In the first days, she would cry a lot, maybe because of being away from home but I would comfort her.
She loved me a lot and we developed a strong bond that even when she was being picked up for medical check-ups, she would cry for me to go with her.
If I wanted to leave the house, I had to explain to her that I was leaving and would return later that day or after a few days because she did not want me to be out of her sight.
She would ask me when the “thing” in her stomach would get out and how the doctors will do it. I would explain that the “thing” will be removed eventually.
This is because she did not know what was inside of her, she knows she has a disease that has affected her stomach and not that she is pregnant. When we stayed with her, she was well-behaved and very open.
</blockquote>
The foster parent said the pregnant nine-year-old said the sexual abuse was done only at night.
The girl said she shared a bedroom with her parents and her father told her that a goblin was going to come and “insert something in her private parts” at night. She said this happened on several occasions. Said the foster parent:
According to what she says, this goblin would come at night and abuse her and the father would tell her that the goblin has left through the window.
<blockquote>
… into leyi iyangimangalisa, umama uyavala iwindi elivalela ngaphakathi kodwa ukuthi into leyi ibivula njani ibisingena, angikwazi, kodwa ubaba nguye owaye vala iwindi nxa sekuqedile” (the whole thing confuses me because my mother would close the window at night from inside, but I don’t know how this thing (goblin) would open and come in. But my father would then close the window after it has finished).
</blockquote>
The girl also disclosed that the goblin would only enter when the father was home, but when he is away the goblin would not come. She said:
<blockquote>
She said to me she would cry after the sexual violation and the father would console her and then put on the light. She also mentioned that if the light was on, the goblin never appeared but it showed up in the cover of darkness.
</blockquote>
The goblin is said to have stopped violating her when her aunts’ children visited as she was now sleeping in the same room with her cousins.
The girl, however, does not know when exactly the abuse stopped but said she stopped sharing the bedroom with her parents when her cousins visited.
The father of the child was arrested on 29 August after it was discovered in the hospital that the child was pregnant. He is currently assisting police with investigations.
The girl is expected to deliver at any time, using a Caesarean operation, as she is still too young to undergo normal delivery.
She is under the care of United Bulawayo Hospitals and is staying at a safe house in the city.

Pregnant Nine-year-old Girl Opens Up On Sexual Abuse

Chief Gampu Sithole of Tsholotsho has condemned the rape of the nine-year-old girl from his area who became pregnant as a result of the sexual abuse saying it was uncultured and unacceptable.
According to officials, the girl, who is eight months pregnant, is not aware of the pregnancy as she believes she has a “stomach ailment.”
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Chief Gampu urged society to protect young children from sexual predators. He said:
<blockquote>
I’m here to address the situation that occurred in my community involving the nine-year-old girl who just so happened to become pregnant.
Being the leaders that we are, we strongly condemn this heinous conduct. Soon after learning the tragic news, I was able to visit the family and meet the child’s grandmother.
I was told the girl had gone through puberty earlier than planned. The child was supposed to receive medical attention because that alone should have been a concern handled by a doctor. We want this innocent minor to receive the justice she deserves.
</blockquote>
Chief Gampu said he will undertake awareness campaigns in his community about issues related to child abuse. He also spoke against child marriages. He added:
<blockquote>
We highly condemn this particular issue, I personally refuse to accept it as a normal crime and justifiable.
I doubt God can accept this, the government definitely does not, the community should not normalise or accept it as well.
Although we do not yet know who the perpetrator may be, we leave that decision to the legal system in the hope that a just penalty will be meted out to the offender.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/chief-gampu-speaks-on-nine-year-old-pregnant-girl-dilemma/">The Sunday News</a>

Chief Gampu Speaks On Nine-year-old Pregnant Girl From His Area

A pregnant nine-year-old girl from Tsholotsho has refused to give police the name of the man who raped her, reported <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/2022/11/8-year-olds-pregnancy-probe-turns-into-a-whodunit-as-girl-refuses-to-talk/">ZimLive.</a>
The girl, from Masekesa Village under Chief Gampu, was just eight years old when she was impregnated.
Doctors say the child has a rare condition of “precocious puberty” – when hormone glands are activated earlier than normal.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they first received a report of rape on 30 August this year, when the Grade 3 pupil was already seven months pregnant. Nyathi said on Tuesday:
<blockquote>
The child was taken for a medical which revealed the pregnancy. Regrettably, to date, she has not revealed the name of the person who sexually abused her. We believe as police that she was threatened.
I must stress that we won’t give up, we’re still conducting our investigations with specialist officers, medical experts and counsellors who are doing their best to get to the bottom of this matter.
</blockquote>
The girl is currently admitted at the United Bulawayo Hospitals and is expected to give birth by caesarean section sometime in November.
United Bulawayo Hospitals acting CEO Dr Harrison Murambanapasi disclosed that doctors are expecting “a lot of challenges” during the Tsholotsho girl’s delivery.
<h2>Abortion is illegal in Zimbabwe</h2>
Abortion is illegal in Zimbabwe but doctors can terminate pregnancies after rape victims obtain a court order under provisions of the Termination of the Pregnancy Act.
However, in the case of the Tsholotsho child, doctors decided an abortion would be too dangerous after she was taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals already eight months pregnant.
Meanwhile, the youngest person ever to give birth is Lina Media from Peru, who gave birth aged five years and seven months in 1939.
Medina’s father was arrested on suspicion of sexual abuse but was later released due to lack of evidence, and the baby’s biological father was never identified.

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