Grade 7 girl dies during childbirth

A Grade 7 pupil from Katanga, Norton, died while giving birth at an apostolic church shrine in Bikita on 04 October.

Her father, Bernard Hwaramba the family will release the details related to the circumstances which led to his 15-year-old daughter’s death in due course.

Nokutenda died on Tuesday at an apostolic church shrine while giving birth. 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. Nokutenda Hwaramba’s body was ferried from Bikita to Mt Darwin on Wednesday and laid to rest on the following day.

Some Katanga residents had threatened to beat up Bernard, and his church members, accusing them of causing the death of Nokutenda. Loice Muparadziwo, the deceased girl's mother revealed that her daughter had been impregnated by one of their neighbors only identified as Aaron. When she got sick, she would just fall down as if possessed by evil spirits. Bernard Hwaramba, her father then consulted prophets from his congregation and later took her to Bikita for more prayers. He left Nokutenda in the hands of the intercessors at the shrine where she later died while giving birth.

Their church doctrine does not allow them to visit a clinic, or hospital, to give birth or for any medical treatment.

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.