Justice for Baby Princess: A Mother’s Ongoing Struggle for Closure

By Tafadzwa Nyamuzihwa

In a heart-wrenching follow-up to the tragic death of Baby Princess, who was murdered in July 2023, the saga continues to unfold as her mother, now in a state of despair, waits for answers that have yet to come. Baby Princess’s lifeless body was discovered in a shallow dam in the Dzivarasekwa area, harboring deep wounds in the hearts of many.

The alleged perpetrators of this heinous crime—referred to in local Shona as “maiguru” (meaning “mother-in-law”) and “baba mukur” (meaning “father-in-law”)—fled to South Africa, leading to a protracted extradition process. By September 2023, the case was resolved, with the suspects awaiting deportation back to Zimbabwe. However, the real tragedy lies in the shocking neglect surrounding the investigation and the treatment of Baby Princess’s remains.

Since August 2023, the baby’s body has been retained in the mortuary at Parirenyatwa Hospital, leaving her mother in a prolonged state of anguish. Initially, when burial arrangements were being made, a pathologist refused to release the body, citing the need for DNA testing to provide closure to the grieving family. The situation was exacerbated when the mother was informed that all DNA testing machines in the government were non-functional, forcing her to cover the costs for tests to be conducted at NUST University.

In a display of communal solidarity, Zimbabweans rallied to assist the mother with funds in October 2023, allowing for a blood sample to be collected. But the family was then informed that the previously collected samples had dried up, necessitating the new test. Promises were made that results would be available within six weeks, yet here we are, over a year later, with no results in sight. The baby has, tragically, become an unwitting landlord at Parirenyatwa Hospital mortuary.

As the days turn into weeks and months, the mother raises crucial questions: Is her daughter even still in the mortuary? Why has the pathologist not released the DNA results as initially requested? Despite offers from Global DNA for independent testing, access to the child’s body has been denied.

The silence from women’s pressure groups, women lawyers, and female leaders in Parliament, including the First Lady, is deafening. Where are they when a vulnerable mother is left to endure the trauma of not being able to lay her innocent child to rest due to systemic negligence?

As the mother pleads for assistance in releasing her baby’s remains, potential corruption casts a long shadow over this case. Is this yet another scandal where the price of life is obscured by greed? The tragic reality is that this case not only reflects the urgent need for justice but highlights the failures within the health and legal systems.

For those who intersect with this harrowing story, the mother can be contacted at 0772895894. This is a genuine cry for closure from an innocent woman, lost in a painful struggle to find peace amidst an overwhelming bureaucratic maze. The community stands ready to support her, yet urgent action is needed to bring the truth and compassion this case desperately demands.