Registered Nurse & School-going Teenager Arrested in Illegal Abortion Scandal

Registered Nurse and School-going Teenager Arrested in Illegal Abortion Scandal in Bulawayo

In a shocking turn of events, a registered general nurse is in hot soup with the police in Bulawayo after being caught red-handed by mourners unlawfully terminating the pregnancy of a 16-year-old school-going teenager.

According to Bulawayo Provincial Police Spokesperson, Inspector Abednico Ncube, the incident occurred on July 6th, 2024, when residents attending a funeral in Entumbane heard a commotion at a nearby residence.

“On the 06th of July 2024 at around 1030 hours, residents were attending a funeral at Entumbane Bulawayo, when they heard someone screaming at Devine Dlodlo’s place of residence and they went to check on what was happening,” Ncube said.

Upon arriving at the scene, the residents were met with a disturbing sight. They found the two accused persons, a 16-year-old form four student (cannot be named), and Devine Dlodlo, a 26-year-old registered general nurse, in the house. Mary Nare had blood stains on her thighs and lower limbs, and there was blood all over the floor.

“Upon arrival, they saw the two accused persons in the house and Mary Nare had blood stains on her thighs and lower limbs. There was blood all over the house floor. They also discovered that Mary Nare had given birth to a foetus and it was placed on the toilet floor,” Ncube revealed.

The residents immediately reported the incident to the police, and on July 7th, 2024, at around 10:30 am, a formal report was made.

During the investigation, the teenager confessed that she was six months pregnant and had approached Dlodlo, the nurse, to assist her in terminating the pregnancy.

“Upon interview, teenager confirmed that she was 6 months pregnant. She stated that she approached Devine Dlodlo as a nurse to assist her with any drug to terminate her pregnancy. She was then given some unknown tablets to induce and terminate the pregnancy,” Ncube stated.

The young girl then led the police to a nearby bushy area, where she had allegedly dumped the foetus. The foetus was recovered and taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) mortuary, where a post-mortem examination will be conducted.

This shocking revelation has led to the arrest of both the nurse and the teenage girl, and the police have vowed to ensure that the law takes its course.

“This led to the arrest of both accused persons. We warn members of the public against this unruly behaviour of terminating pregnancy as it is illegal and they risk losing their lives. Such behaviour from a professional nurse is uncalled for hence the law will take its course,” Ncube warned.

Abortion is a highly contentious and sensitive issue in Zimbabwe, where it is only legal in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is in danger. The country’s abortion laws are some of the most restrictive in the region, with the Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1977 establishing strict guidelines for when the procedure can be performed.

Despite the legal restrictions, illegal and unsafe abortions are still a major public health concern in Zimbabwe. Many women, particularly those from marginalised communities, resort to back-alley procedures or the use of unsafe methods, putting their lives at risk. This issue has been further exacerbated by the country’s economic challenges, which have limited access to reproductive healthcare services.

In recent years, there have been calls from various stakeholders, including women’s rights organisations and healthcare professionals, to review and reform Zimbabwe’s abortion laws to ensure safer and more accessible reproductive healthcare for all. However, the topic remains highly polarised, with strong opposition from conservative and religious groups.

As the community grapples with the aftermath of this shocking incident, the need for greater education, access to reproductive healthcare, and a strengthening of the legal framework to protect the lives of both mothers and unborn children has never been more apparent.