IN a case of
suspected witchcraft, a 38-year-old woman from Bulawayo's North End
suburb gave birth to a 38cm long worm on Sunday morning. The woman, Ms
Anna Mbizi, was five months pregnant when she allegedly experienced
labour-like contractions and gave birth to a worm in her bathroom.
The bizarre
incident happened on Sunday and her boyfriend has reportedly abandoned
her.
When reporters visited her at her home yesterday, she seemed weak and
was holding what was left of the worm, which was placed in a tin.
She said she was shocked when her doctor told her that she was not
carrying any baby in the womb and her tummy was mysteriously growing big
with no baby inside.
"I am still short of words because I consulted my doctor when I was two
months pregnant and was told everything was normal.
This was going to
be my third baby and I think someone bewitched me," said Ms Mbizi.
She said she suspected that one of her neighbours who owed her $150 was
behind her misfortune.
"I really thought I was five months pregnant as I had all the signs and
symptoms of a pregnant woman. When I experienced the pains, I thought I
was going to miscarry but was shocked when a worm came out," said Ms
Mbizi, who separated from the father of her two children.
"My boyfriend was not supportive enough since he learnt of this incident
and I am afraid he is going to leave me.
He really wanted a
baby and now that I delivered a worm I am not his favourite person."
She said her neighbours had advised her to put coarse salt on the worm
so that she is not cursed again.
"I put salt on the worm and it shrinked, changing to a liquid like thing
and as you can see there is some blood in the residue," said the
emotional Ms Mbizi.
The woman's friend, Ms Tafadzwa Shumba, confirmed that her friend had
problems with a neighbour over the debt.
"Anna and the woman who owes her $150 have for some time now been
exchanging harsh words.
They used to
threaten each other every time Anna went to ask for the money," said Ms
Shumba. Ms Mbizi's doctor, who runs a surgery in the city centre,
confirmed the incident.
"The case is very unusual as I also examined the woman after the alleged
incident and could not find any baby. The situation left us to believe
that the worm had been acting like a baby.
"I examined the woman three months ago and she appeared to be two months
pregnant but when she came back on Sunday night nothing indicated that
she had been pregnant although there were signs of strain on her uterine
tissue," said the doctor.
