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Danisa Masuku
A WOMAN who allegedly stole a seven-day-old baby who later died has been arrested and awaiting results from the DNA test done to prove her claims.
The woman, Anita Moyo (30), who hails from Empandeni in Plumtree in Matabeleland South Province has since been arrested. The body of the deceased has been in the mortuary for three weeks.
B-Metro spoke to Marvel Matjinge, the father of the woman whose child died after he was allegedly stolen from her while they were at Plumtree District Hospital.
The heart-broken Matjinge said his daughter, Sithembelenkosini Ndlovu took her seven-day old baby boy to Plumtree District Hospital for a routine check-up and while Ndlovu was waiting for her turn to be served Moyo approached her.
“Moyo gave Sithembelenkosini money to buy soft drinks and bananas at the gate and she left the child in the custody of Moyo. She returned after a few minutes only to discover that Moyo had disappeared with her child,” said Matjinge.
The distraught father said his daughter looked for her in the toilet and dashed to the waiting room but Moyo was nowhere to be seen.
“With tears streaming down her cheeks Sithembelenkosini stormed into the sister-in-charge’s office and told her that a stranger had stolen her baby. The sister-in-charge summoned security to assist her to look for the baby but their efforts were to no avail,” he said.
The incident was reported to the police and an urgent search was launched. A source close to the investigations said on the same day Moyo, who was strapping the stolen baby on her back, visited a clinic in Empandeni claiming to have given birth at home.
“While the nurses were attending to her and asking her questions pertaining to her delivery, Moyo failed to answer questions to their satisfaction. The nurses became suspicious and phoned Plumtree District Hospital asking whether they had a case of a missing child and they found out that indeed a child was missing,” said the source.
A nurse who spoke to B-Metro on condition of anonymity said following that the authorities at Plumtree District Hospital advised Empandeni Clinic authorities to detain Moyo at the health institution.
“On the following day, an ambulance was dispatched to take Moyo and the child,” said the nurse.
After that, nurses examined her body but they were left doubting that she had given birth. On the other hand, Sithembelenkosini was asked to point out birth marks on the baby to prove that she was the biological mother of the child.
“Sithembelenkosi correctly stated the marks and upon checking, the nurses found out that she was spot on,” said the source.
The health institution authorities questioned Moyo but she maintained that the child was hers. After that, she was arrested. Authorities from ZRP and Plumtree District Hospital suggested that to settle the matter a DNA test has to be done and it was agreed that it will be carried out at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust).
However, the baby has since died from an undisclosed cause but is yet to be buried, while authorities await DNA test results.
Matabeleland South Police Spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena confirmed the incident.
“Community members are advised not to leave their children in the care of strangers and they must treat any stranger with suspicion.”
Online Reporter