Online Reporter
Bunjiwe Mkwananzi
A 19-year-old woman has been arrested and sentenced to six months in prison for allegedly abandoning her one-month-old baby along Bahunia Street in Masasa, Kwekwe.
The incident came to light after a passer-by discovered the infant and reported the matter to Kwekwe Central Police Station. The baby was subsequently taken to Kwekwe General Hospital for medical attention before being placed under the care of the Department of Social Development.
Police investigations, coupled with medical examinations, led to the identification of the child’s mother, who had reportedly gone into hiding after allegedly stealing money from her sister.
On 12 July 2026, police, assisted by the woman’s sister, arrested her at Manyanganya Village under Chief Chirenya in Gokwe.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) have warned communities against abandoning children, urging members of the public to report cases of child neglect and ensure infants are protected and placed in safe environments.
Authorities said every child deserves care and protection, and cases involving the abandonment or neglect of children would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
