The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed the arrest of a 26-year-old man for allegedly marrying and impregnating a 14-year-old girl who recently died while giving birth in Marange.
26-year-old Evans Momberume also known as Hatirarame was arrested in connection with the death of an underage Anna Machaya who died while giving birth.
ZRP spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi told Report Focus News that Momberume will appear in court facing charges of rape.
“I can confirm that we have arrested Hatirarame, alias Momberume following the death of Anna Machaya. He will appear in court facing rape charges,” said Assistant Commissioner Nyathi.
He also said Machaya’s parents tried to destruct the course of justice by providing false information to protect the suspect.
“We were receiving false information from the parents providing us with fake documents and that’s when we discovered that the person who died is Anna not Memory Machaya.”
The 14-year girl old’s death has rekindled the debate on need to curb early marriages, with questions also being raised on the effectiveness of various pieces of legislation that protect the girl child.
