Last month, Momberume was granted $50 000 bail by High
Court judge Justice Muzenda.
The child-bride, Anna Machaya, died on July 15 this year at
the sect’s shrine in Marange, Manicaland province.
This sparked a public outcry, with women’s groups
denouncing the marrying off of young girls by the sect.
Momberume is represented by Brian Majamanda of Khupe and
Chijara Law Chambers.
Majamanda confirmed to NewsDay yesterday that the trial
would begin today.
“Yes, after being granted bail, we will be back in the
regional court tomorrow (today) for trial,” he said
Before he was granted bail, Justice Muzenda questioned why
the State preferred to slap him with a murder charge.
The judge said the State should prove the essential
elements of murder in Momberume’s case before granting bail.
According to the State, Momberume unlawfully caused the
death of Machaya by failing to take her to a medical facility to receive
healthcare services during labour.
Momberume, instead, took Machaya to Johanne Marange sect
midwives, where she delivered and died after labour complications.
He hid the news of her death and proceeded to bury her
without notifying authorities.
In order to cover up for the offence, the accused and his
relatives claimed that the person who had died was Memory Machaya, born on
January 2, 1999.
Investigations later revealed that the person married to
the accused was, indeed, Anna, a minor, not Memory, leading to his arrest.
Newsday
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