Hazel Marimbiza
Police are investigating charges against Memory Machaya’s parents who openly lied about their daughter’s real name and age in a bid to obstruct investigations.
According to a statement issued by police the girl who died while giving birth is not Memory but Anna.
“The minor who died in this case is Anna Machaya, born on 5 July 2006 not Memory Machaya born 2 January 1999.
“It is correct that Anna Machaya died on 15 July 2021 and was buried at the shrine after experiencing complications while giving birth,” said national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi.
He added: “Anna Machaya’s father, Edmore Machaya (45) and mother Shy Mabika (36) are being investigated for obstructing or defeating the course of justice. The parents openly lied to the police that Anna Machaya was born on 2 January 1999. The mother went on to give police investigators a national identity card in a bid to prove that she was born on 2 January 1999. This was false. Investigations have revealed that the identity card produced to the police belonged to a namesake of the late who is daughter to Ernest Machaya. It is through school records in Mhondoro that the police actually proved that the late Anna Machaya was born on 5 July 2006 to Edmore Machaya and Shy Mabika.
“The police have obtained the correct birth certificate copies in respect of Memory Machaya (22) and the late Anna Machaya (15). These are two different people with a different mother and father. Memory Machaya is alive and currently married to Lameck Makonye alias Sigodhla (54) in Mhondoro,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
Meanwhile, the late Anna Machaya’s husband Hatirarami Momberume is also facing charges of rape or alternatively contravening section 70 of the Code.
