The Sunday Mail
Weird World
A THREE-MONTH-OLD baby is fighting for his life after his tongue was sliced into two by a neighbour in a botched backyard tongue-tie division procedure (kucheka rurimbo) in Chiadzwa recently.
When we caught up with the baby’s mother, Ms Beauty Muchayana, she said her neighbour, Mr Andrew Muchena, forcibly performed the procedure on her baby with a used razor blade.
The baby ended up with his tongue slit into two, from the tip, all the way to the throat.
Since the unfortunate incident about a month ago, the boy has been unable to breastfeed.
At just three months old, the baby has so far undergone three emergency surgical operations to repair his tongue as his stitches keep loosening up.
In total, he has received 16 stitches on his tongue.
During our crew’s visit, the baby was wailing non-stop, probably from pain and hunger.
His small tongue looks black from the stitches.
Narrating the ordeal, Ms Muchayana said her then one-month-old baby had not been feeding properly when she asked friends what could be the problem.
“They said my son was tongue-tied. They advised me to have my child undergo a tongue-tie division procedure.
I was told that Muchena was the one who could perform such procedures in our area.
“However, when I approached him, he said he did not know how to do it.
A few days later, around 5am on March 28, Muchena and another guy called Manjokoto knocked on my door and told me that they had come to carry out the procedure.
“I told them I was not ready for it but they insisted and forcibly took charge.
I could not witness the procedure; I, therefore, dashed outside and left them with my baby.
“A few minutes later, Manjokoto came outside, shaking his head. He said there was chaos inside and that I had to get in and rescue my baby.
“When I got in, my baby was wailing uncontrollably and Muchena had stuffed a blood-stained bed sheet inside his mouth.
“There was blood everywhere. He handed me the baby and apologised, saying he had failed on the mission,” said Ms Muchayana.
The woman says Muchena advised her not to tell anyone about what had happened. From then on, the baby stopped feeding and was crying non-stop.
“I tried feeding the baby for two days but failed until I went to some white garment prophet for assistance,” she said.
Four days later, neighbours advised the woman to make a police report.
When M s Muchayana called the police to make a report, she was advised to seek emergency medical attention first to save the baby’s life.
The baby received medical attention on the same day and had to stay in hospital for four days as he was being fed through some tubes to allow his tongue to heal.
After getting discharged, the baby still cannot breastfeed due to the severity of the injury.
He is, therefore, receiving baby formula through a small plastic cup that delivers the milk directly to his throat.
His capacity to suck f rom a baby feeding cup is currently close to zero.
The baby is long overdue for a review and his mother is appealing for well-wishers to help her financially.
“I asked Muchena to give me some money so that I could seek medical attention for my baby but he refused. Up to now, he has not offered me any help. As for the baby’s father, he is not in the picture as he refused paternity, so l am all alone,” said Ms Muchayana.
“We cannot see the doctor for a review without paying our arrears. We owe US$400 for the surgeries he went through and now we need an additional US$20 as consultation fee for the review.
“I am appealing for help. He needs the review so that we hear whether the most recent surgical operation was successful or not,” she said.
Efforts to contact Mr Muchena did not yield result as his phone was unreachable.
The distraught woman has since made a report at Chikanga Police Station in Mutare.
According to Dr Dorcas Masanga-Mutede, a paediatrician, tongue-tie division surgeries should be performed by ear, nose and throat specialist doctors only.
Left untreated, moderate to severe cases of tongue-tie can cause challenges, including feeding problems and speech impediments.
Those willing to help Ms Muchayana can reach her on 0780 844 085; or her sister, Ms Maureen Mapati, on 0774 364 306. — Manica Post.
Thief snoozes ‘on duty’
SLEEPING on duty, quite literally! In a dramatic turn of events, a burglar ran out of luck and was reportedly busted while sleeping at the crime scene after stealing property suspected to have been “fenced” using juju.
After successfully stealing household property, Romeo Dzawanda (31) from Kokwa village, under Chief Negomo, Mashonaland Central province, was caught snoozing at the crime scene surrounded by his loot, including a five-kilogramme gas cylinder, a two-plate gas stove and two blankets.
This was heard when Dzawanda appeared before Concession magistrate Joshua Nembaware, charged with unlawful entry into premises in aggravating circumstances, as defined in Section 131(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 36 months in prison.
Dzawanda will, however, serve an effective 24 months in jail after 12 months were suspended for five years on condition he does not commit a similar offence.
In mitigation, Dzawanda pleaded for the court’s mercy, saying, when he committed the offence, he had gone to see his girlfriend, who took his money and was staying at the complainant’s place.
On April 15, in Chokureva village, Dzawanda went to Taurai Musenga’s house and cut her bedroom door using an unknown object, then gained entry, while the complainant was away, the court heard.
He stole a gas cylinder, a gas stove and two blankets, then went out of the house.
It is reported that, before he could make good his escape, he suddenly fell asleep, surrounded by his stolen goods.
Dzawanda was apprehended by members of the community who found him sleeping at the scene and took him to Chombira Police Station. The value of the stolen property was US$110. — B-Metro
