Incest couple in baby slaughter pact

POLICE have arrested a couple from Tsholotsho, who were in an incestuous relationship, for allegedly killing a two-month-old baby in order to revive their love.

The gruesome crime, during which the baby's skull was crushed with a blunt object, was discovered following a postmortem that was carried out at the United Bulawayo Hospitals recently.

Relatives who spoke on condition of anonymity said Simelinkosi Mlala, 20 and Kudakwashe Sibanda, 23, of Mbamba Village under Chief Mahlathini, who are close relatives, had a child together five years ago before relatives separated them.

Mlala then fell in love with a South African-based Zimbabwean and they had a baby in December last year. Police sources said the couple decided to revive their romance and Sibanda bought rat poison to kill the injiva's child.

Mlala, said the sources, developed cold feet and could not kill her baby. "Sibanda, on February 27 allegedly hit the child with an unknown blunt object, crushing her skull and causing her to suffer brain damage. The two connived to keep the assault secret," said a source.

Mlala is said to have told the injiva, whose name could not be established, that the baby had been bewitched when she died two days after the assault.

"They even took the baby to prophets to cover up," the source added.

"Sibanda even went to the injiva's family to claim lobola for Mlala as the couple wanted to use the money to resettle at their original home in Lupane," said a relative.

"Mlala's family approached the injiva's family for money to bury the child, but for some reason they ignored them. Sibanda went to the police and even shed tears when he reported that a dispute with the in-laws was preventing the child's burial."

The relative said police took the child's body and said it could not be buried without a post-mortem.

"The autopsy report showed the child had a fractured skull and had bled internally and externally. When police quizzed the two, Mlala revealed they had agreed to kill the child," said the relative.

Mlala confessed that they had previously tried to kill the baby and the police arrested the couple.

"They rekindled their love relationship and Sibanda said he could not take Mlala back with another man's child," the relative said.

"Simelinkosi told police Kudakwashe clobbered the baby while she went to her bedroom hut to collect her belongings. They were preparing to elope."

Mlala's relative, who preferred anonymity, said the child died after two days and the couple asked the child's biological father's family to bury their child.

The couple is expected to appear in court tomorrow.

Matabeleland North acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Eglon Nkala could not be reached for comment.