GWERU – A 21-year old Mberengwa woman has been slapped with a seven-year jail term for killing her seven-month-old baby by lacing her milk with poison in 2023.
Felistas Mpofu was jailed by the Gweru High Court which she told that she opted to kill her baby because she was unable to look after her.
The court sentenced year to seven years in jail after taking into consideration that she was a first offender.
The High Court also took into consideration that she was going through a difficult time when she committed the offence.
Mpofu killed her baby in March 2023.
Her child’s death was initially treated as suddenly death but an investigation was launched after a good Samaritan who had assisted sensed a foul smell from her belongings.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) proved that on March 3 2023 Mpofu arrived in Mandava Township, coming from her rural home.
“Later that morning she laced milk with rat poison (an organophosphate pesticide) and fed it to her 7 month old daughter using a feeding bottle.
“Having no place to sleep, she approached a Good Samaritan in Mandava, seeking overnight accommodation,” the court heard.
She was provided with a place to sleep.
Throughout the night, the baby cried persistently, and in the morning, the Good Samaritan suggested taking the baby to the hospital.
The baby later died at Zvishavane General Hospital, and the matter was initially reported as a “sudden death” pending investigations.
When she went back to collect her belongings from the Good Samaritan’s home, the Good Samaritan became suspicious when she noticed a foul smell emanating from the offender’s belongings.
She then discovered the feeding bottle containing milk with a strong chemical odor, which she handed over to the police.
A post-mortem conducted at United Bulawayo Hospitals subsequently confirmed that the child died from the ingestion of a toxic substance.
Mpofu informed the court that she killed her child as she had no means to look after her properly.
“A tragic story that underscores the urgent need for mental health support, parenting education, and protection of children at all levels,” said the NPA.
