This is the shocking picture of a pregnant child who died while she was giving birth in a church shrine.

The news of the death of 14-year-old Memory Machaya even prompted the United Nations to once again condemn the practice of child marriage in Zimbabwe, and there was also an online petition calling for justice launched on change.org.

The shocking case also put the focus on child marriage which is still allowed as well as polygamy in Zimbabwe’s apostolic churches.

In the online petition, the government was accused of not doing enough to stop child marriage, with none of the current marriage laws setting a minimum age of consent.

In the change.org petition they wrote: “Memory Machaya, a 14-year-old child is reported to have died during childbirth at a shrine in Manicaland.

“This is a clear case of child sexual abuse and perpetrators have to be brought to book. The child was raped, impregnated and then denied treatment.

“The adults involved should be held liable for not only the death of this child but the rape as well.

“It is time for the Zimbabwe Republic Police to launch an investigation into cases of child sexual abuse and child marriages. . .

“The constitution is clear on the child marriage and the observation of children’s rights. The police need to take any allegations of sexual crimes against children seriously and thoroughly investigate every case that comes to their attention. The case of Memory Machaya is a perfect opportunity to investigate and make sure that all perpetrators are prosecuted.”

The tragic death comes at the time that the country is upgrading the laws, with Parliament discussing new rules that would ban marriage for anyone under the age of 18. Currently, a third of all girls in the country are likely to end up getting married before they reach this age.

The death of the teenager was made public by her family after claiming security services had tried to hide what had happened.