Morogoro Regional Police Commander SACP Alex Mkama. Photo: File
By Lilian Kasenene
Morogoro – A 25-year-old woman, Subira John, from Mtendeni in Kilosa District, Morogoro, has been arrested for abandoning her one-day-old male baby.
The incident occurred on November 8, 2024, around midday at K Park Bar in the Mbumi area, Mbumi Ward, Kilosa. According to Morogoro Regional Police Commander SACP Alex Mkama, the suspect buried the infant with only its head exposed and fled the scene.
After the incident was widely shared on social media, the police launched an investigation, eventually leading to Subira John’s arrest on December 2, 2024, at an unregistered guesthouse.
In cooperation with the social welfare department, the police took the baby to Mgolole Children’s Home in Bigwa Ward, Morogoro Municipality, where the infant is now recovering.
Commander Mkama confirmed that investigations are still ongoing, and legal steps will follow. He also called on the public to stop abandoning infants and instead care for them, stressing that they are the future of the nation.
In a series of shocking incidents across Tanzania, cases of infant abandonment and abuse have highlighted the urgent need for societal and government intervention. On October 22, 2021, a three-day-old baby girl was found dead after being thrown into a latrine by an unidentified woman in Mbeya.
The police are still investigating, but the incident has sparked outrage across the country. Similarly, on June 20, 2019, a newborn baby was rescued by good Samaritans after being abandoned by its mother near a bridge in Mtisi village, Katavi region. The mother’s motives were unclear, but this incident further underscored the growing issue of infant abandonment in the country.
Another disturbing case occurred on June 20, 2022, in Mwanza, where a student at SAUT University caused the death of her child after giving birth and subsequently discarding the baby. The young woman was arrested, and the case shed light on the tragic extremes some individuals will go to under pressure, neglect, or a lack of support systems.
Earlier, in May 2015, a woman named Janeth from Kimara-Suka, Dar es Salaam, abandoned her newborn in a bag in a farm field, allegedly due to a romantic dispute with the father of the child.
Most recently, in Morogoro, a young woman, Subira John, was arrested for abandoning her one-day-old male infant in a pit with only its head exposed. The infant was found alive but in critical condition.
The authorities acted swiftly, and the child was taken to a care facility where it is now reported to be recovering. Police in Morogoro have launched an investigation into the case, confirming that they will pursue legal actions against the perpetrator. This incident adds to a long list of heartbreaking cases that point to a dire need for intervention.
These incidents are not isolated, but rather part of a disturbing trend. They reflect the pressures faced by women, particularly young mothers, in Tanzania and the lack of support for them. Often, women find themselves without the resources or the emotional support to care for their children, leading them to make desperate and tragic decisions.
The consequences of these actions are devastating, not just for the children, but for the mothers involved, and for society as a whole.
The government, alongside community leaders and organizations, must address these cases with urgency. Programs that provide support to mothers—especially young and single mothers—must be strengthened.
There is a need for greater access to education on reproductive health, parenting, and the rights of children. Furthermore, local authorities and law enforcement must enforce stricter measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the first place.
The recent incident in Morogoro calls for immediate action, not just in terms of prosecution, but in providing a more supportive environment for vulnerable mothers. This should be a wake-up call to all Tanzanians—abandoning children is a crime that not only destroys lives but diminishes the moral fabric of the nation.
In the face of such incidents, one thing is clear: Tanzania cannot afford to remain passive in the fight to protect its children. The country’s future depends on the well-being and protection of its youngest generation. It is time to reflect deeply and take meaningful action to ensure that no child is ever abandoned again.