Woman gives birth to 'frog'

In an incident that has baffled Gokwe villagers, a 36-year-old woman gave birth to a frog-like creature after she suddenly got into labour while at home. The expectant mother, who was eight months pregnant, passed out soon after giving birth to the "frog" and was taken to Gokwe District Hospital by her husband, where the creature later died.

According to a local newspaper, Nomore (39) and Precious Nyathi (36) kept the dead creature in their bedroom for some days before villagers tipped the local traditional leadership, which then ordered the "frog", which had shrank in size, to be burnt before a stunned crowd.

The incident, which is now the talk of Gokwe, occurred last Thursday at Sidojiwe Village under Chief Njelele. An official at Gokwe District Hospital, who confirmed the incident, said Mrs Nyathi, who was registered at the hospital as an expectant mother, was supposed to deliver by the end of this month.

The official - who cannot be named for professional reasons - said they only gave Mrs Nyathi some pain killers before they discharged her. "She only had some blood stains which suggested that she could have been in labour but everything on her was normal," said the official.

In an interview, Mr Nyathi said they have been holding on to their "child" because they were still confused and did not know what to do with it. "We were all confused following this hellish experience and until today, I don't have peace of mind.

He said on the fateful day, he was away when he received a phone call from a neighbour that his wife had suddenly gone into labour, but had given birth to "some strange thing". "I rushed home and was shocked to see a frog with the elderly women I found gathered at my homestead saying it was the one that my wife had just delivered.

Mrs Nyathi said she was still in a state of shock and the experience will haunt her for life.