Marondera teen arrested after allegedly throwing toddler into dam

Police have arrested an 18-year-old Marondera woman after she allegedly threw her one-year-old daughter into a dam. A local fisherman rescued the child.

MARONDERA – An 18-year-old woman from Baker Farm in Marondera has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after allegedly throwing her one-year-old daughter into a dam following a domestic dispute.

According to ZTN News, the suspect, Clara Ali, allegedly argued with her boyfriend over her current pregnancy before the incident. Police allege that after the dispute, Ali threw her one-year-old daughter into a nearby dam and fled the scene, leaving the child in the water. Fortunately, a local fisherman who was nearby witnessed the incident and immediately rushed to rescue the infant. The fisherman managed to pull the child from the dam alive before raising the alarm. Authorities have not yet disclosed the child's medical condition or whether she sustained any injuries.

Police have since arrested Ali, who is expected to face charges of attempted murder. Investigations into the incident are continuing. Under Zimbabwean law, criminal charges are allegations, and the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

In a separate incident, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched an investigation after an infant was found abandoned in Goromonzi District. Police said an approximately three-month-old baby girl was discovered behind a kitchen hut at Chaiyezvi Village on 2 July 2026. The infant was wearing a white romper, grey socks and a black-and-white woollen hat and was wrapped in a grey baby blanket. Authorities are appealing to members of the public with information that could assist investigators in identifying the child's parents or guardians to come forward.

The two incidents have renewed concerns over child welfare and the protection of vulnerable children in Zimbabwe. Police continue to urge members of the public facing family or social challenges to seek assistance from relatives, community leaders, social welfare offices or other support services rather than abandoning or harming children. Anyone with information relating to the abandoned baby is encouraged to report to their nearest police station.

Marondera attempted murder