Harare — A BEATRICE woman who allegedly gave birth on her own and threw the baby into a pit latrine was yesterday remanded at her hospital bed in Chitungwiza.

Chitungwiza magistrate Mr Geoffrey Gogo remanded Elsida Muchenje (20) to February 5 this year to allow her to recuperate.

Outlining the State case, Mr Moffat Makuvatsine said on January 21 this year, at around 4am, Muchenje gave birth on her own in a bathroom at Joyce Mine compound

It is alleged that she went to the toilet, close to the bathroom, and threw the infant into a pit latrine, which is still in use.

Mr Makuvatsine said one Ellen Chirembewe who was on her way to the toilet saw Muchenje holding a metal plate and trying to cover the squat hole.

On inquiring why she was doing that, Muchenje told her that there was a cat meowing in the toilet. She wanted to close it so that it would not jump out.

The State alleges that when Chirembewe listened to the sound emanating from the toilet she realised it was that of was a baby crying. She immediately alerted fellow villagers who, in turn, alerted police who were on patrol.

The police dug up the toilet and retrieved the baby and took it to Chitungwiza Hospital.