Following reports that a 14-year-old girl died while giving birth at a Johanne Marange church shrine in Bocha, Mutare, a wave of anger has erupted among citizens and girl child movements who are demanding an in-depth investigation.
Memory Machaya died last week at a shrine after giving birth to a baby boy. The mother, Shy Mabika was allegedly denied access to her when she was giving birth and after she died, was also denied access to her burial.
Memory’s mother believes her daughter’s life could have been saved had she been allowed to rush her to the hospital.
In a subsequent effort to cover up the death, Memory’s mother and family relatives were forced to remain silent and were not allowed to mourn her.
“We were denied access to witness the burial of our daughter as bouncers silenced us and warned us over spreading news of the death of our relative,” said Alice Mabika, the family spokesperson.
Zimbabweans on social media have called on the police to find the man that impregnated the young girl arguing that this was a clear case of statutory rape.
Young Women Christian Association of Zimbabwe (YWCA), a Harare-based non-profit, charitable organization called on police to act on the matter as any inaction would be a betrayal of girlchild rights.
“YWCA Zimbabwe is calling for Zimbabwe Gender Commission and the ZRP to investigate and bring to book all adults responsible for allowing the abuse and death of the late Memory Machaya,” said YWCA
Here are some citizen views from Twitter;
