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Woman (25) takes birth control pills to terminate pregnancy

by Staff Reporter
24 Mar 2013 at 12:43hrs | Views
23-year-old Gweru woman has been convicted by a Bulawayo court for terminating a pregnancy by consuming birth control pills.

Ntandoyenkosi Masuku, whose first name means God's will, was slapped with a two-year jail term by provincial magistrate Mr Willard Maphios Moyo sitting at Western Commonage Magistrate's Court.

The youthful woman, however left the court relieved thanking her gods after the magistrate took into consideration that she was willing to render unpaid services and commuted 18 months of the sentence to community service. The remaining six months were set aside on condition that she does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.

It is the State case that on 2 March this year Masuku committed the alleged offence. She had failed to locate the man who impregnated her. Masuku is said to have decided to find a permanent solution. She allegedly learnt that taking birth control pills in large quantities could help her terminate the pregnancy.

The youthful woman reportedly took the advice and looked for the pills. She allegedly took 14 birth control pills at intervals. It is said that after a couple of hours she started experiencing labour pains delivered the foestus.

Masuku is said to have dumped the foetus in a bush but was spotted by a woman who went to check what she had thrown away. A report was late made to the police leading to her arrest.

Source - Court