A woman from Gweshanga village in Lupane, Matabeleland North province, has been convicted for breastfeeding her employer's two-year-old child, sparking outrage and disbelief in the courtroom.

Khaliphile Nyoni (24) appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Joseph Mabeza on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, to answer charges of aggravated indecent assault. Nyoni pleaded guilty to the offense of breastfeeding the child while the parents were at work.
The shocking case unfolded when Nyoni revealed to the court that the child would often access her breast and start sucking on his own. "The child always took my breast and would start sucking. I told the mother and she did nothing about the issue. I used to sleep with the child and he would suck my breast every night, that is how he got used to the deed," Nyoni said in court.

Magistrate Mabeza, taken aback by Nyoni's confession, questioned why she allowed the child to breastfeed from her, despite not being the child's mother. "Why did you allow the child to suck your breasts?" Mabeza asked, but Nyoni failed to provide a clear answer, suggesting that the child had become accustomed to the act over time.
The issue came to light on December 1, 2024, when the child's father discovered a picture on Nyoni's cellphone showing her breastfeeding his son. Disturbed by the image, he reported the incident to the police, leading to Nyoni's arrest.
Nyoni was remanded in custody as the case continues. The court has yet to issue a final sentence, but the disturbing nature of the offence has left the public and legal authorities shaken.
This incident has raised significant questions about boundaries in domestic work relationships and the safety of children in household care. Nyoni's actions have drawn widespread condemnation, with many expressing disbelief over how such an event could occur without the employer's knowledge.