Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]
A whistleblower whose tip-off led to the location of the abducted two-year-old toddler Asanda Ndhlovu yesterday, has revealed dramatic scenes that unfolded moments before authorities moved in.
Asanda, who was abducted at Meikles Mall in the city centre on Tuesday, was found in the company of the suspect at a businesses flat along Herbert Chitepo Street following information supplied to the police. The whistleblower said suspicions were raised after noticing inconsistencies in the woman’s explanation about the child’s identity.
“She knocked in my offices and I noticed that she had a little girl. I allowed them in before offering her a chair,” said the whistleblower who runs a small business in the city, speaking on condition of anonymity.
He said the female suspect started to narrate her story, telling him that she wanted to briefly leave the toddler in his office saying the baby was going to be picked by her father who was just across the street.
“Look, I didn’t know the lady, yet here she was entrusting the child’s custody to me. I looked at the child and some resemblance struck — she looked similar to photos circulating in newspapers and social media,” said the whistleblower.
He said he briefly left his office to call an elderly female member to bear witness to the unfolding drama.
“I briefed my neighbour that I suspected the little girl was the missing one and when she saw the child, she was also convinced it was the same baby reported missing,” said the whistleblower.
He said while they were still talking, the suspect asked to go to the toilet.
“With my suspicions, I could not take any chances. So, I asked my neighbour to accompany her and make sure she returned.
“Upon their return, I grabbed my keys, locked the office and went out,” said the whistleblower.
He said he tried to call the mother of the child but her phone was not going through.
It was at that point that he decided to go to the scene of the crime at Meikles Mall.
At the mall, he met two technicians from a private security company, Mr Luke White and Mr Casper Bota, specialists in installing Closed Circuit Television (CCTV).
He said he asked to view the CCTV footage as he suspected the toddler he had left in his office was the one reported missing.
In an interview, Mr Bota said when the whistleblower told them that he suspected the baby reported missing was the one he had seen at the flat and wanted to have a closer look at the CCTV footage, they assisted him.
“We showed him the footage and he confirmed that the missing baby was the one he had seen at the flat. We immediately contacted CID Homicide who sprang to action and drove to the flat and true to the informant, the toddler was found,” said Mr Bota.
Bulawayo police spokesperson, Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed that the toddler had been found and re-united with her mother before authorities took her to hospital for medical examination.
“Police in Bulawayo confirm that a two year old female toddler Asanda Ndhlovu who was reported to have been kidnaped at a local Mall located at L Takawira Avenue and J Moyo Street, Bulawayo has since been found,” said Insp Msebele.
She said police have since arrested a suspect, a female adult at corner Herbert Chitepo and 3rd Avenue in Bulawayo.
“The toddler has since been reunited with her mother and the suspect is assisting the police with further investigations. We applaud members of the public for cooperating with the police leading to the location of the child,” said Insp Msebele.
