Online Reporter
Muchaneta Chimuka
A 38-YEAR-OLD Murehwa woman who kidnapped her six-week-old granddaughter in a bid to convince her boyfriend that she had given birth to a baby girl has been sentenced to an effective four months in prison.
Nomatter Vambe of 2227 Magamba, Murehwa, appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Mr Batsirai Madzingira, who sentenced her to 12 months’ imprisonment, with eight months suspended on condition of good behaviour.
The infant, who was still breastfeeding, was reunited with its mother after a four-day police manhunt that ended with Vambe’s arrest in Murehwa.
Prosecutor Shamiso Charmaine Mwapangira told the court that on May 28 this year, at around 9 am, Vambe contacted her daughter-in-law, Precious Mutisi (22) of Budiriro 5B, Harare, and invited her to meet in Harare’s central business district, claiming she wanted to buy her a gas tank.
When Mutisi said she did not have transport money, Vambe sent the bus fare via EcoCash.
Upon arriving in Harare later that day, Mutisi was instructed to travel to Chitungwiza, near the Velvet area, where she met Vambe after disembarking at Chitungwiza Magistrate’s Court.
The court heard that Vambe arrived with Mutisi’s two-year-old son, Princess Topozi and asked to carry the six-week-old baby girl, Presley Topozi, on her back, joking that the child belonged to her.
She allegedly gave Mutisi US$50 before boarding a bus, leaving Mutisi and her son at Chitungwiza Magistrate’s Court.
Mutisi was later led by her son to Vambe’s home at number 14050 Unit O, Seke, and after an hour, Vambe returned to the house carrying the baby and accompanied by a man believed to be her boyfriend.
Vambe proceeded into the dining room with her boyfriend while the complainant was in the bedroom, and she later gave the child to her daughter-in-law to breastfeed her before taking her again to the dining room, where she slept with her boyfriend.
The following day, Vambe left the house with the children, claiming she was escorting her boyfriend, but never returned.
Efforts by Mutisi to locate her mother-in-law were unsuccessful, prompting her to report the matter to the police on May 30.
Investigations led to Vambe’s arrest on June 1 at Chitate Village under Chief Mangwende in Murehwa.
On June 2, Mutisi travelled to Murehwa Police Station, where she was reunited with her children.
The court convicted Vambe of kidnapping and sentenced her to 12 months in prison, with eight months suspended, leaving her to serve an effective four-month jail term.
