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Manicaland recorded nine cases, Matabeleland North (5), Mashonaland Central (4) and Midlands (2).
Snr Asst Comm Bvudzijena said children went missing for different reasons.
“Trends that are common relate to disputes in homes which resulted in children running away, eloping or generally seeking employment without alerting parents or guardians,” he said.
He said in some instances children ran away after squandering school fees and stealing money from their parents.
The three who were found dead were from Masvingo (two) and Mashonaland Central.
Among the deceased, he said, was a nine-month-old toddler who was left outside the house by his mother only to be found dead five days later.
Senior Asst Comm Bvudzijena said scarce resources had affected investigations into the disappearances. He urged children’s organisations to assist the police deal with the cases.
A lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe School of Social Work Mr Samuel Mhiribidi yesterday said the issue was worrying.
“It worries us as social workers as you would know our main focus is protecting children. So this trend is worrying us,” he said.
“The children are not deliberately running away as it may appear. If you look closely at those who mysteriously disappeared, it does not look like it’s deliberate on their part.”
Mr Mhiribidi said he believed that the kidnappings were linked to ritual murders done to appease spirits and enhance business fortunes.
“We strongly believe they are linked to ritual murders and all sorts of businesses and successes of life. It is suspected that some people who believe in ritual killings and making use of body parts for those purposes are responsible for the kidnappings,” he said.
Mr Mhiribidi said parents and guardians should educate children not to trust strangers.
“We should go out of our way to teach our children not to trust strangers and not to be lured by them. They should be taught to be suspicious of any strange persons so that they avoid being trapped,” he said.
Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe general secretary, Reverend Lindani Dube condemned the kidnapping of children saying it brings distress to affected families.
“As the church we condemn this behaviour in strongest terms. It is not only immoral and unethical behaviour, but it is also uncultural,” said Rev Dube.
“It is a behaviour only possible when one is under the influence of satanic and demonic ambitions which crave for the acquisition of riches in unorthodox means and where ulterior motives which say the end justify the means are upheld.”
The church, he said, will continue to pray against this phenomenon.
“We also urge the law to take its course on both perpetrators and promoters of this evil, and urge Zimbabweans to desist from this evil practice,” Rev Dube said.
He said the Bible is against immorality, which includes the abduction, torture and murder of innocent children.
Online Reporter