DNA Test Uncovers Baby Swap At Mpilo Central Hospital 18 Years Ago

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Two families, one from Shurugwi and the other from Bulawayo, are in shock after discovering that their daughters, now 18, were accidentally swapped at birth at Mpilo Central Hospital on 13 May 2007.

The mix-up was uncovered after the father of one of the girls, who lives in Bulawayo, became suspicious that his youngest daughter bore no resemblance to her siblings.

Driven by doubt, he secretly arranged a DNA test, which confirmed that the child was not biologically his.

According to a family source who spoke to ZimLive, the revelation led to serious tension within the household, with the man accusing his wife of infidelity. The couple eventually separated.

Heartbroken but adamant that she had been faithful, the mother returned to Mpilo Central Hospital to seek answers.

Hospital records revealed that only two baby girls had been born on that day, and she was able to trace the name of the other mother, although no contact details were available. Added the source:

“She began searching and in 2023 found the other woman on social media.

“They met, shared their stories and agreed to do a DNA test. It confirmed beyond doubt that their babies had been swapped.”

Mpilo Hospital has reportedly admitted negligence, saying the baby identification tags may have slipped off and been mistakenly replaced. The source added:

“The hospital pleaded that in 2007, the country was going through a severe economic crisis, they were short-staffed, and systems were compromised.”

Mpilo Hospital chief medical officer, Dr Narcisius Dzvanga, said he needed more time to respond to questions sent by ZimLive.

Sources close to the families said the hospital has done little beyond advising them to find common ground.

The hospital has also been accused of failing to provide psychological support, leaving the families to cope with the emotional trauma on their own.

The situation was made even more painful by the death of the father of the Shurugwi-based girl, who passed away before discovering the truth. The source said:

“The Bulawayo family is well-off and has offered to take care of both girls, but the Shurugwi relatives are still deciding.

“It’s not made better by the fact that the Shurugwi mum lives in South Africa, trying this and that to make ends meet. It’s difficult for everyone, understandably.”

Efforts have been made for the two girls to spend time with both families to help them adjust and build a bond.

However, differences in language and culture, one family being Shona-speaking and the other Ndebele, have made the process more difficult.

Both families have reportedly engaged lawyers as they consider taking legal action against the hospital.

The Mpilo Hospital case comes just months after a similar baby swap at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) in January.

In that incident, a Cowdray Park mother who had given birth to a boy via Caesarean section was handed a girl after the babies were taken away for cleaning.

Despite insisting that she had delivered a boy, nurses dismissed her concerns.

Her suspicions later prompted her to commission a private DNA test, which confirmed that the child was not hers.

UBH subsequently referred the matter to the Applied Genetics Testing Centre at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), which verified that the babies had indeed been switched.

The Esigodini couple, who had received the boy initially, refused DNA testing until police intervened. The father, a small-scale miner, had reportedly been desperate for a son.- Kariba Binoculars