Woman ‘loans’ her 6 month old baby to friend
By George Maponga
MASVINGO- In a bizarre case, a Masvingo woman reportedly loaned her six-month-old baby girl to another woman for her to claim maintenance from her boyfriend who is a truck driver.
The two women were, however, arrested for fraud and contravening sections of the Child Protection and Adoption Act. Magret Dick (22) and Ndaizivei Moyo (24), both of Rujeko C suburb, were on Tuesday arrested after Moyo disappeared with Dick’s baby, prompting the latter to lodge a police report.
Dick spilled the beans, leading to their arrest. Moyo had allegedly lied to her boyfriend that she had given birth and hatched a plan to use Dick’s child to claim support.
Masvingo police spokesman Inspector Tineyi Matake yesterday said they arrested the pair after Dick reported the matter to the police accusing her friend of disappearing with her child.
According to the deal, the child was supposed to be returned after two days. “We arrested the two women after they conspired to trick Moyo’s boyfriend that she had given birth, yet the child belonged to Dick.”
It is alleged that Moyo took the baby to her rural home in Rusape.
“We are charging the two women with fraud and also for contravening the Child Protection and Adoption Act and they will appear in court soon,” said Insp Matake.
It is alleged that on January 2 this year, Moyo approached Dick and sold her the idea that she wanted to use the baby to hoodwink her boyfriend, a truck driver, to pay her maintenance.
In return for the favour, Moyo promised Dick goodies, including a year’s supply of baby formula. Moyo was supposed to bring back the baby after two days, but she fled to Rusape.
Sensing that she had been tricked, Dick made a report to the police and exposed the deal. Police launched a manhunt for Moyo and located her in Rusape.
