Rusape woman jailed for stealing 2 children almost 10 years ago

A Rusape woman has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment at the Harare Magistrates Court for two counts of kidnapping on the 24″ November 2022. .

Enator Marumani (48) was accused of stealing two children in 2013 and 2015.

The National Prosecuting Authority told the court that on the 13” of June 2013, Natasha Chikwanha, the complainant went to Harare Hospital for medical attention after developing chest pains. As she was leaving the hospital she was approached by the accused person who offered to carry her 3 week old baby as they were both headed in the same direction.

When they got into the CBD the Marumani coerced the Chikwanha into accompanying her to Gulf Complex where the accused person vanished into the crowd with the child. She took the baby to Rusape where she lied to her husband that she had given birth to a baby boy.

Two years later on the 23° of June 2015 at Mbare, the Marumani found Martha Ndinodyeyi a vendor being admonished by City Council officials for selling brooms at a prohibited place. As the complainant moved her brooms to another selling point, the accused person offered to look after her 2 month old baby until she was done.

When the Ndinodyei was almost done moving her brooms, she noticed that the accused person had vanished with the baby.

Nine years later on the 13″ of June 2022, the Marumani’s husband Noel Gutu reported the matter to the Police as he was not satisfied with the accused person’s explanations concerning the “supposed births.”

Investigations were conducted leading to the arrest of the accused. The children now aged 9 and 7 respectively were returned to their mothers after the state conducted DNA tests.