Slap on wrist for abandoning baby

Dalyn Chigwizura,Court Reporter

A 20-year-old woman from Gwanda has been sentenced to a wholly suspended nine-month prison term after admitting to abandoning her six-month-old baby in the care of two 10-year-old children.

Rejoice Sibanda, of Lumene Village, appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Jeconia Prince Ncube charged with child abandonment or neglect. She was convicted on her own plea of guilty.

Sibanda was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years on condition that she does not commit a similar offence during that period.

Prosecutor Ms Cathrine Kuzu told the court that on October 10 at around 2PM, Sibanda left her infant in the care of two minors without providing food or clothing, claiming she would return shortly.

However, she failed to return that day and only came back the following evening at around 10PM, by which time the children had continued to care for the baby in her absence.

The court heard that when the children realised Sibanda was not returning to resume care, they reported the matter to a social worker in Nkulumane, who then alerted the police, leading to Sibanda’s arrest.