Story by Tapiwa Machemedze
KARANDA, MT DARWIN – THE widely circulated story claiming that a woman had given birth to quintuplets at Karanda Mission Hospital has been officially dismissed as a hoax, following investigations prompted by a visit from the Twins Association of Zimbabwe and the national broadcaster.
The false report, which gained momentum across mainstream and social media platforms on Monday, was traced back to a prank caller who impersonated the father of the alleged new-borns and misled stakeholders, including charitable organisations and the media.
Upon arriving at the hospital, ZBC News discovered that there had been no such birth. Karanda Mission Hospital Superintendent Dr Paul Thistle, flanked by officials from the Twins Association of Zimbabwe, unequivocally refuted the claims.
“I hear people saying that five babies were born here at Karanda by a single woman, but I want to set the record straight there were no quintuplets delivered at this hospital. We serve people from across the country, but no such event occurred,” he said.
The Twins Association of Zimbabwe, represented by Mayor Katonha and Lawyer Farai Katonha, revealed they had received an emotional plea from a man identified as Nyamupfukudza, who posed as the father of the quintuplets and fabricated the entire story.
“We received several calls including one from the alleged father, who even claimed the first birth had been twins and this time it was quintuplets. Many well-wishers, touched by the news, came forward pledging houses and support. While the story turned out to be false, we appreciate the compassion shown by the public,” Mayor Katonha said.
Visitors and caregivers at Karanda expressed shock over the news, having seen no indication of such an extraordinary birth.
“We have been here for days and never heard of a woman giving birth to five babies. It only came up on social media,” a patient said
My husband is admitted in the ICU close to the maternity ward. Had it happened, we do have known,” added another.
Commenting on the journalistic handling of the story, media analyst Lazarus Sauti criticised the spread of misinformation and emphasised the need for rigorous fact-checking in newsrooms.
“This case demonstrates the dangers of reporting unverified information. Journalism is grounded in ethics, and accuracy should always come before virality. Media practitioners must always be on the ground, verifying facts before publication,” Sauti said.
While the story turned out to be a prank, it inadvertently shone a spotlight on issues surrounding multiple births and highlighted the recent opening of a new maternity wing at Karanda Mission Hospital, offering hope for improved maternal health services in the region.
