In a shocking incident at Chipinge District Hospital in Zimbabwe, Cynthia Masocha, a new mother, gave birth to a baby boy, only to discover the next morning that her child had been swapped with a baby girl.
The incident, which has sent shockwaves through the Chipinge community, is now under investigation by both police and hospital officials.
According to reports from Manica Post, Masocha gave birth to her son on September 21, 2024, with the help of midwife Blessing Mutimbu. After the birth, Mutimbu confirmed the newborn’s gender as male, which Masocha also verified. Following the delivery, Masocha breastfed her son and went to sleep. However, she was shocked to find that the baby was a girl when she checked the nappies the next morning.
“I couldn’t believe my eyes when I checked the nappies. I was sure I had a son, and the hospital records confirmed it,” Masocha reportedly told authorities, expressing her disbelief at the unexpected mix-up.
Masocha was one of three women who had given birth on that day, with her being the only one to deliver a male child. The hospital’s birth records confirm that she had indeed delivered a boy, adding to the mystery of the swap.
In response, hospital officials and police are conducting DNA tests to determine the true identity of the babies and how the mix-up occurred. Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, the acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, confirmed the incident and stated that the investigation is ongoing.
“On the evening of September 21, Ms. Masocha gave birth to a baby boy. The newborn was confirmed as male, and the hospital records listed the child as a boy. However, the next morning, Ms. Masocha discovered that the baby she had was a girl,” Chinyoka said in a statement.
While no suspects have been named, investigators are working to determine how the switch happened. DNA tests will be conducted on all parties involved to determine paternity and uncover the truth behind the mix-up.
