By Blessing Masakadza
A Glen Norah woman narrowly escaped mob justice last week after she allegedly kidnapped a grade two pupil at the school gate.
The woman, only identified as Tendeso allegedly grabbed the minor at the gate of Kudakwashe Primary School in Glen Norah B only to be stopped after a distance at Glen Norah B flats after the child raised alarm.
The woman who exhibited signs of mental disability was mobbed by people reportedly calling for instant justice. She was only rescued by an alert municipal cop who rushed her to Glen Norah Police station in his vehicle and the matter was reported.
Sources say that the woman grabbed the child at the school gate claiming it to be hers, dragging him to an unknown destination only to be stopped at the flats. A form 3 student at Glen Norah High, Fidelis Ndahwi also became a saviour after he positively identified the child.
“I had been sent back from school to collect my school fees invoices when I saw a group of people running towards my direction. I got closer and the woman grabbing the child’s hand and I identified the child as we stay in the same neighbourhood.
“She claimed the child was hers but the child refused the claim and I also denied the same. His mother was called to the scene,” he said.
The woman reportedly took to her heels after her attempt to disappear with the child failed.
“I was seated near the flats when I heard noise, people shouting that someone had stolen a child. She had the confidence, saying the child was hers but the child kept on denying it.
“People mobbed her and calling for instant justice. She took to her heels and I apprehended her. People came, intimating instant justice but I shielded her into my car and took her to the station. I must say people are united, kombis blocked me thinking I was the one who had taken the child.
“Had it not been that I was close, she would have been killed by the angry mob,” said Sergeant Rodwell Turusa.
“Only God knows where she was taking the child to. It was lucky that she used a busy road and people stopped her because of the child’s alarm. It is actually a distance, from Kudawashe to Glen Norah B flats,” added another resident.
In an interview the child’s mother Emily Mavhaza expressed shock with the development and she could not control her emotions.
“Nine months dzinorwadza mukwasha,” she said.
“He is my first born. I was vending when another child rushed to me saying my child had been abducted, I had sent someone to pick him up from school but returned saying he had not seen him only to be told the story,” she said.
The matter ended up at Glen Norah police station where she was advised of the woman’s mental capacity.
“Haapenge uyu. Anonyatsoziva zvaarikuita, Mapurisa ati hapana zvanangaite nekuti anopenga,” she said.
