Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro
A 36-year-old woman from Marimba, Yemurai Gandari, was arrested on Sunday for allegedly kidnapping two babies from South Africa.
Gandari was found by police with three children — two babies aged eight-months and a four-year-old child — after authorities had received a tip-off.
According to reports, Gandari crossed into Zimbabwe on May 5, this year, and the children had no travel documents.
Officers from the Victim Friendly Unit recovered a duplicate South African baby card issued by the Gauteng Provincial Hospital on January 18, 2022.
It is in the name of Ariana K.M.A Gandari, the kid who is aged four.
The card indicates that the child was born on August 10, 2021 in South Africa.
The baby card lists the mother’s name as Courtney Yemurai Gandari.
It also shows that the child received treatment at Chivhu Hospital on October 20, 2022, and April 21, 2023.
The child also received treatment at Mabelreign Clinic (date unclear) and Mufakose Polyclinic on November 14, 2023.
Police said no birth records were found for the other two children, which led to Gandari’s arrest.
One resident told H-Metro that “something did not add up” after Gandari had previously been involved in an altercation with her biological sister, following the sister’s stillbirth.
The resident claim Gandari had swapped a baby with her sister after the stillbirth.
The child was initially registered as Gandari’s baby but this was later changed and the case remained unresolved because the incident was not reported to police.
The source said Gandari may have colluded with a nurse, at a local hospital, to take a baby from a mentally disturbed young woman, who had abandoned the child at a clinic.
The mother was later said to have recovered the baby.
National Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi could not be reached for comment.
H-Metro understands that Gandari is detained at Marimba Police Station under CR198/05/2026.
