One month old baby Tamiranashe, who was snatched at Montagu Shopping Centre in Harare on the 22ndof October has been found in Murombedzi and is now safe in the custody of his parents.
The Chalamanda family was re-united with their son who is now five weeks old, after two weeks of hell looking for their missing baby.
The family told ZBC News they received a phone call from Zvimba Police on Tuesday morning asking them to come and identify a baby that had been recovered at Jokonya Clinic in Murombedzi.
An alert nurse at the clinic tipped off the police leading to the recovery of the baby.
Police took the baby to Zvimba General Hospital, but the accused has however escaped and police are looking for her.
Meanwhile, police have since arrested Gift Chemhuru in connection with the kidnapping.
Chemhuru is also wanted in connection with theft and motor vehicle offences
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the baby was rescued from the suspect’s homestead in Zvimba after the police received a tip off.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of Gift Chemhuru (40) following the kidnapping of a four-week-old baby at Spar Supermarket, Montague Shopping Centre, Harare on October 22, 2020.
“The baby was rescued from the suspect’s home on November 2, 2020 in Zvimba following a tip-off from members of the public who heard the baby crying incessantly without being breastfed. The baby has since been taken to Zvimba District Hospital,” he said.
Asst Comm Nyathi said Chemhuru’s wife, Miriam Bwanali escaped when the police arrived.
“Police are now looking for Bwanali, who is the key suspect in this case. She escaped during the time police were called in. Chemhuru was also wanted for theft and motor vehicle related offences,” he said.
22 October 2020 was just a normal day for the Chalamanda family that was still celebrating the latest addition to the clan, baby Tamiranashe. His mother, Shanie had taken him to Parirenyatwa Hospital for routine post-natal check-ups. It was at the hospital that she met the woman who turned out to be a baby snatcher.
They left the hospital together and when they reached Montague Shopping Centre, Shanie wanted to buy refreshments. The stranger offered to carry her baby for her and that was the last time she was to see her son. The baby snatcher disappeared into thin air.
The mother of the child, who was elated at being reunited with her baby said that she was relieved when she received a call from police on Monday night inviting her to the station to identify a child whom they had found.
“We went to the station and it was my baby. I am so happy. I heard that the child was found at the homestead of the woman who kidnapped her. Allegations are that the woman ran away when officers arrived at her home.
“I also heard that her husband attempted to run away, but was quickly apprehended by the police. I want to say a big thank you to members of the public who assisted the police with information leading the recovery of my child,” she said.
~Herald
