MASVINGO – A heartbreaking case involving a 13-year-old girl who died during childbirth has resulted in legal action against her father and the man she was married to within the Johane Marange Apostolic sect. The girl, Esther Mugwebi from Bhake Village in Masvingo Rural, passed away in June 2025 after a fatal attempt to deliver her baby, which reportedly involved a dangerous procedure where her womb was cut open with a razorblade.

Esther’s father, Jeremiah Mugwebi, 46, and her alleged husband, Learnmore Mahova, 33, were found guilty of failing to report her death and secretly burying her without notifying authorities or obtaining the necessary burial permits.

During the court proceedings at Masvingo Magistrate’s Court, Magistrate Caroline Tafira Nyoni acknowledged the men’s difficult circumstances, noting their dependence on farming and lack of steady income. She sentenced them under the Birth and Death Registration Act but reduced their prison time to community service, citing their responsibilities and the nature of the offense.

“You neglected your duty by not reporting the death,” Magistrate Nyoni stated, converting eight months of a 12-month sentence into 280 hours of community service, with an additional four months suspended for five years.

Esther, who suffered from epilepsy, was reportedly the fourth wife in Mahova’s polygamous household, which is said to include over 30 children.

Prosecutor Nobukhosi Moyo emphasized the need for increased legal awareness and community vigilance, especially in cases involving minors, to prevent such tragedies in the future.

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