The baby lay in a pool of blood, crying, and Siyampongo stood there helpless, not knowing what else to do except call for help.

In what has become known as the lithium rush, local residents like Dangaranga started mining their land, using picks and shovels to extract the metal.

Janita Corina Mesu wrote her doctoral thesis at the University of Zimbabwe about women who commit infanticide in the country.

The shortage also makes it difficult for people to make change on smaller transactions, leading prices to be rounded up to the nearest US dollar.

According to an undercover investigation at Chitungwiza Central Hospital, midwives demand between US$10 and US$25 for basic pregnancy registration from pregnant women.

Despite their efforts, Madzivaidze said her family’s sacrifices were in vain.