Maid arrested after kidnapping employer’s eight-month-old baby, a day after being hired
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POLICE have arrested a housemaid who was employed in Zvishavane for kidnapping an eight-month-old baby and also stealing from her employer a day after starting employment.
Midlands Provincial Police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the arrest of the maid aged 16 from Mashandike Resettlement Scheme in Masvingo.
“Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of a female juvenile aged 16 of Village 15 Mushandike Resettlement Scheme, Masvingo, in connection with a case of kidnapping after she stole an eight-month-old baby,” he said.
The kidnap happened a day after the juvenile had been employed on April 9, 2023, and kidnapped the baby, the following day in Zvishavane.
“In brief, the circumstances are that on 9 April 2023, the suspect, Evidence Hove got employed as a domestic maid by Memory Sibanda aged 38 in Mandava Township in Zvishavane. The following morning on 10 April 2023 she was left taking care of four children aged 14, 12, 8 years and the youngest aged 8 months, while the employer went away,” said Mahoko.
It has been gathered that soon after the employer left, the maid proceeded to steal USD$60 and went away with the eight-month-old Junior Marenga leaving the other three children.
Following the incident, the mother’s children were informed and when the maid failed to return a report was made to ZRP Zvishavane.
Mahoko said on April 12 at about 1000hrs, police investigations led to the arrest of the suspect at Village 7 Sovelele in Sandawana, with the baby in her custody.
Police have since taken the victim to Zvishavane District Hospital for examinations.
“We are appealing to members of the public to ensure that they employ housemaids who have traceable records. Also, make efforts to have your maids vetted by police before employing them and this service is done freely at any police station. Parents and guardians of young children should not entrust or leave them under the custody of strangers,” he said.