adminThe Herald, 2 July 2010
A NORTON woman who allegedly disappeared with a two-month-old baby girl after giving the unsuspecting mother a bucket of maize as a “present” has been arrested.
Primrose Mazhana (age not given) of Ngoni Township was arrested on Monday after a tip-off to the police from the public.
Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector James Sabau confirmed the arrest.
He said the baby, Diana Mukwena, had since been reunited with her mother Portia Madzvimbo (42) in Hatcliffe.
On June 16, Mazhana moved in with her boyfriend, Leonard Bwititi, in Hatcliffe before she befriended Madzvimbo.
“The two women had known each other for four days when the incident occurred,” said Insp Sabau.
He said they would assist each other in cutting thatching grass near the suburb.
On June 20 around 10am, while they were cutting grass, Mazhana allegedly told Madzvimbo that she wanted to go back home to collect a bucket of maize.
She said the maize was a present for Madzvimbo, police said.
It is understood that Madzvimbo gave Mazhana her baby to take home with her.
Police said she was accompanied home by Madzvimbo’s son, Artwell (15).
Insp Sabau said Artwell was given the maize before being told to wait a distance from the house while she walked away with the baby.
Mazhana allegedly disappeared with the baby and after an hour of searching, Artwell could not still locate her or his little sister. He informed his mother and they went to Bwititi’s workplace.
“Bwititi told them that Mazhana had stolen 20kg of maize meal, two litres of cooking oil and a bar of soap from his house,” Insp Sabau said.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
Crimes against children usually result in abuse and/or death. Some of the stolen though alive might never be reunited with their biological parents. This is why parents must be vigilant.
Whether at a hospital or at home, or even at public places, it is more likely that a baby thief will be able to get her hands on the baby if the little one is left unattended. It is therefore best to keep the baby in sight at all times.
In this technological era, social media has been a source of vital information to anyone so much that anyone can do a search about anyone and their family on social media. Be cautious, therefore, of any announcements regarding the baby that you or your family post. It is also important to know that baby thieves have been known to use this information to target potential victims. And if someone is posting exactly where the mother and the baby are in real time, this makes it all the easier for them.
Baby thieves usually masquerade as part of the health care team, or can easily befriend a nursing mother, hence all nursing mothers should be careful of strangers who make unusual friendly advances to them and their baby.
Even if the chances of the baby being getting carried away or stolen are low, it is still important to know that it is crucial to always be careful when sharing the baby’s information with anyone. Information alone is a great tool which may be used to get access to the baby even if you are away.
If someone approaches your child-minder and claim to be close to you having presented all the gathered information about your baby, chances are high that the unsuspecting child minder can give the stranger access to the baby.
Online Reporter