By Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI- Police in Chiredzi have been praised for their swift response when they recovered a seven days old baby that had been stolen at Chiredzi’s Nyore Nyore Shopping Centre in less than 12 hours after the case had been reported.
Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the recovery of 18-year-old Epiphania Kwangware’s baby after she had been tricked into trusting a stranger to leave her baby. He urged members to desist from trusting strangers saying such acts can have detrimental effects.
“We want to encourage members of the public to avoid over trusting strangers as such scenarios can be detrimental to the lives of children and even themselves,” said Dhewa.
Circumstances are that on September 2, 2024 at about 0800 hours, the complainant, Kwangware of Manyika compound in Mkwasine, went to Chiredzi General Hospital with her baby for vaccination.
Kwangware left the hospital at around 0900 hours and met Prosperity Hobwane (35) of Chipimbi Village 9 in Mkwasine at Chiredzi General Hospital main gate who accompanied her to Chiredzi Old rank.
On arrival at Nyore Nyore Shopping Center, Hobwane gave Kwangware some money to buy some drinks for both of them. Kwangware went into a supermarket leaving Hobwane outside with her baby.
Upon return, Kwangware discovered that Hobwane had disappeared with her baby and made some searches around but could not find both of them after which she made a report to the police at about 1200 hours.
The police attended the scene and investigations went on until around 09:00 pm. The police picked some information on Hobwane’s whereabouts, made a follow up and found Hobwane and the baby at her homestead in Mkwasine leading to her arrest. The baby was found in good condition.
Two similar cases were reported in March and May in Gweru and Mangwe District respectively.
