Woman kidnaps boy (11)

Tinashe Hazvide
A WOMAN from Jenasi Village shocked the courts when she pleaded guilty to kidnapping an 11-year-old boy and went with him to Mozambique.

Sarah Sanyanga (29) of Jenasi Village under Headman Mandeya in Honde Valley appeared before Mutare magistrate Mrs Annie Ndiraya facing charges of kidnapping as defined in Section 93(b)(iii) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, Chapter 9:23.

It was the State’s case led by Mr Brian Goto that on December 3, Sanyanga kidnapped an 11-year-old boy.

Police received a tip-off from Elizabeth Muchuru (58) that Sanyanga had left the country with someone’s child and investigations commenced, leading to her arrest.

In her defence, Sanyanga said she did not intend to kidnap the child, but just wanted to play with him.

“I only wanted to play with him, Your Worship; not that I wanted to deprive him of his freedom,” said Sanyanga.

Mrs Ndiraya asked her what sort of playing she intended to do when she spent three days in Mozambique with someone’s child without the parent’s concern. She was advised to apply for bail at the High Court as she was facing serious allegations of kidnapping.

The matter was adjourned to December 27 for trial.