Harare Hospital has a desperate women detention room

Harare Residents Trust has exposed that the Harare Hospital has a big room call 'kugomba' (egodini / the pit) where desperate women are detained to give birth when they have no money.

"At Harare Hospital, there is a big room called 'kugomba' where they are detaining desperate women who give birth but have no money to pay for hospital fees," said the trust.

"In this room, the women and their newly born babies are heavily crowded. No nurses service these women and the innocent children. From hospital records, they are reportedly discharged meaning that they are considered out of hospital, yet they will be detained in the 'kugomba'."

The trust said as days wore on, most of these desperate women end up dumping their babies and escaping. More in the next update.

"The situation is desperate. Kugomba is located just behind the maternity ward, towards the mortuary," said the trust.

"When relatives bring food to these women, the security guards call out the names of the women to come out and receive their food from family members. They leave behind their babies while they get food. The hospital keeps their belongings locked away and can only be given when they settle their maternity fees."