ZIMBABWE – A pregnant 15-year-old girl from Marange, Manicaland Province, died last Wednesday after bleeding excessively while under the care of a faith healer.
The now-deceased Ferby Munyafi of Chiadzwa Village in Chief Marange’s area was married to Arthur Chitombo (29) of the same village.
Chitombo was not asked to plead when he appeared before Mutare magistrate, Prisca Manhibi, on Tuesday facing charges of having sexual relations with a minor.
He was granted $40 000 bail and he will be back in court on 12 February.
Prosecutors said Ferby got married to Chitombo in April 2021. She fell pregnant but did not register her pregnancy at the clinic.
It was further alleged that on 9 January this year, Ferby started experiencing labour pains and was rushed to a faith healer in Mafararikwa Village.
On 12 January, she bled excessively as she was in labour and died before she could give birth.
The following day Chitombo reported the case at Marange Police Station and police officers attended the scene.
The body was ferried to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital for post-mortem.
In July 2021, another Marange girl, 14-year-old Anna Machaya, also died during childbirth at the Johanne Marange Apostolic Church’s Mafararikwa Shrine.
