A 26-year-old Zimbabwean was charged on Friday August 20 with "
murder
" after the death last month of his wife Anna Machaya, 14, in childbirth.
Read also Zimbabwe: the UN denounces the marriages of minors, after the death of a teenage girl in childbirth
The death of the young girl on July 15 had sparked outrage, especially on social networks. The United Nations and NGOs condemned the circumstances that led to his death and a petition had collected more than 92,000 signatures. Marriage under 18 has been illegal in Zimbabwe since 2016 and the age of consent has been set at 16. But the southern African country is among the 20 states on the continent where child marriage is most common.
The husband, Hatirarami Momberume, was arrested this week and brought before a court in Mutare (East) on Friday.
He is accused of "
murder
" for not having brought his wife to the hospital after the onset of labor, yet knowing "
that there was a real risk or a possibility that his conduct (...) could cause death.
", According to documents of which AFP has had a copy.
Placed in pre-trial detention, he is also being prosecuted for having had sexual relations with a minor.
Underage brides
The midwives who looked after Anna Machaya have been summoned to court and are also facing prosecution.
Just like the parents of the young girl, called in court for obstruction of justice.
They are accused of having tried to hide the age of their daughter by presenting investigators with a false birth certificate.
Read also Zimbabwe: accused of sexual harassment, the vice-president resigns
According to official statistics, one in three girls in Zimbabwe is underage on their wedding day, and one in two in some rural areas.
Only 2% of boys marry before the age of 18.
