adminWalter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
THE Masvingo woman who was convicted and ordered to perform 220 hours of community service last week for kidnapping her sister’s two-month-old baby to save her marriage now fears for her life.
She is saying her sister’s husband has vowed to physically deal with her.
The woman, Gladys Machaure (18) of 1558 in Runyararo West, has started serving her sentence at Francis Aphiri Primary School in Masvingo.
When Chronicle visited her at the school on Monday, Gladys opened up on the issue and said:
“It was on a Friday although I cannot remember the date. I went to my sister’s house where on arrival I found her daughter with a baby sitter.
“I asked to take the baby to our family home in Runyararo West as I would always do in her (Ms Theresa) absence. I then phoned my sister informing her that I was going to Zvishavane and not Mberengwa as claimed earlier on.”
She said later at night she received a phone call from her sister and confirmed to her that she was with the baby.
“I told her that I was coming back that same day but I did not have bus fare. My sister even sent me money through EcoCash but because I did not have a national identity card I could not withdraw the money,” said Gladys.
She said later at night she received a call from the police in Masvingo ordering her to report at the nearest police station with the baby.
“I did not go because it was around 12 midnight and was afraid to walk alone. The following morning I saw police officers coming to where I was and they arrested me accusing me of having kidnapped my sister’s child. They took me to Masvingo,” she said.
Gladys added: “I am praying for peace between us, my sister’s husband and my sister. I could have erred by taking their child away but I did it above board.”
Asked why she travelled a long distance with an infant who was not hers, she dodged the question and said her sister was fully aware of what was going on.
Gladys (18) reiterated that she did not kidnap the baby and blamed her brother-in-law for overreacting.
Online Reporter