5-month old baby dies in a fight over gossip

A FIVE-MONTH-OLD baby is reported to have died following injuries sustained in a fight involving its mother and two other women over gossip.

According to sources close to the developments, the incident which happened sometime in December in Sinderella Village in Hwange started when Lubelihle Mpala, the mother of the deceased child, sent a message to another woman through a six-year-old girl, saying she was dull and that is why her husband was cheating on her.

The woman whose identity could not be immediately ascertained, is said to have ignored the message but her neighbour only referred to as MaMpho, teamed up with her 26-year-old daughter and confronted Mpala over the issue accusing her of disrespect.

A heated argument ensued, resulting in the two beating her with open hands in the process hitting the baby who was in the mother's arms.

It was the intervention of the neighbours that saved Mpala from being torn to pieces.

A report was made to colliery mine police where the women were told to reconcile and forgive each other.

The following day the baby started foaming. Thinking that she was ill, Mpala resorted to taking her to a popular prophet known as TB Willie.

The baby died along the way.

Suspecting foul play, Mpala's father made a report to Hwange police who referred the body to Bulawayo for post-mortem.

Results of the post-mortem confirmed that the baby had died due to a broken back leading to the arrest of MaMpho and her daughter.

Although police could not immediately confirm the incident as the case had not reached the Press office. However sources within said the two suspects had been picked up in connection with the incident and investigations were still underway.