Government investigates woman’s delivery at police station

Dar es Salaam. The fate of a woman who gave birth at Mang’ula police station, Kilombero District, in Morogoro Region has taken another turn after the government announced it will investigate the matter.

The expectant mother was allegedly arrested and locked up in a cell at the station, after law enforcers failed to get her husband who was accused of purchasing stolen property.

The minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Ms Ummy Mwalimu, told this paper that the government was reviewing the matter.

“Home Affairs minister Mwigulu Nchemba is working on the matter and will issue more details,” she said.

When contacted, deputy Home Affairs minister Hamad Yussuf Masauni said the government would issue a statement on the matter. However, he did not specify when the government would do so.

“We will issue clarification on this issue; but not today,” he said.

Reports from Mang’ula say before being arrested the woman had alerted the law enforcers that her due date was close, but they proceeded to hold her in a remand cell.

“Suddenly, she felt pain while at the police station; but unfortunately the police officers did not allow her to prepare for delivery. They continued to hold her until the situation got worse,” says a message posted on social media by eyewitnesses.

“Shortly before the woman delivered, she was taken out of the station building and started giving birth immediately. The newborn fell on the ground and covered with grass... it’s then that the mother lost her consciousness,” an eye witness added.

According to reports, later unidentified wives of police officers came to offer assistance to the woman whom they covered up because she was almost naked.

Morogoro Regional Police Commander (RPC) was quoted saying he was not aware of the incident.

Suggestions from the social media have recommended that Mr Nchemba must act against police officers on duty, police station’s officer in charge, Officer Commanding District (OCD) and the the regional police boss (RPC) depending on their responsibility on the matter.

“If the four are not investigated and taken accountable, appointing authorities (The president and Parliament) should act against the minister and the Inspector General of Police (IGP)” the report on the incident has suggested.