marble nkomo
Sikhumbuzo Moyo and Mthokozisi Ncube
A DRAMATIC tip-off by a vigilant whistleblower led to the recovery of two-year-old Asanda Ndhlovu and the arrest of a female suspect, revealing tense scenes moments before authorities moved in.
Asanda was snatched on Tuesday 17 February from Meikles Mall in the city centre and later found at a small flat along Herbert Chitepo Street. The whistleblower, speaking on condition of anonymity, said alarm bells went off when the suspect approached him with a story riddled with holes.
“She knocked at my office with a little girl. I let them in, gave her a chair. Something about the child didn’t sit right,” he said. “She looked like the toddler in photos everywhere. I knew something was wrong.”
He called a neighbour to confirm his suspicions. “When she saw the child, she too was convinced. We knew we had to act,” he said.
When the suspect asked to use the toilet, the whistleblower insisted the neighbour accompany her. He then locked the office and went straight to Meikles Mall. Private security technicians Luke White and Casper Bota helped review CCTV footage, confirming the child’s identity. CID Homicide officers swooped in and rescued Asanda.
But while Asanda’s story ends in relief, not all children are so lucky.
In Bulawayo, Alice Ncube remains missing after being taken on 29 December 2025. Her grandmother, Smoly Khanye, said the child was taken after his mother was targeted on a popular WhatsApp channel.
The 26-year-old victim responded to a post on the Idale Labomama group on 27 December 2025, offering free clothes.
She began communicating with a woman identifying herself as MaNdlovu from Cowdray Park. While the mother originally provided her home directions for delivery, the suspect changed the plan on 29 December. At 1 PM, the mother was instructed to meet the stranger at the corner of Harare Road and Cecil Avenue in Parklands to collect the donation. When she returned, one of her babies was missing.
The stark contrast highlights the danger and the power of vigilance. In Asanda’s case, quick thinking and cautious action prevented potential harm.
Police have urged citizens to report suspicious activity and warned against leaving children with unknown people. The city is reminded that safety depends on awareness, community action, and fast reporting.
As Asanda is reunited with her family, relief fills the air, but families like Alice Ncube’s continue to wait and hope.
Online Reporter