Former Senior Police Officer and Wife in Court for Alleged Baby Kidnapping
In a shocking turn of events, a former senior police officer and his wife found themselves in the spotlight as they appeared in court yesterday following the alleged kidnapping of a two-month-old baby girl in Southview suburb, Gweru, on Friday.
Mekia Tanyanyiwa, who previously held a position as head of the ZRP Support Unit, and his wife, Sakhile Tshuma (34), stood before Gweru provincial magistrate Ms. Beauty Dube, facing kidnapping charges in connection with the abduction.
The court proceedings took a twist when it was revealed that Tanyanyiwa’s charges were withdrawn before his plea, as investigations indicated that it was Sakhile Tshuma who allegedly orchestrated the kidnapping.
The abducted baby girl has since been safely reunited with her mother, Ms. Loreen Hungwe (31), of Woodlands Park in Gweru. Testimony revealed that Tanyanyiwa had driven the baby back to Gweru from Norton immediately after Tshuma had brought the infant home and falsely claimed she was the mother.
ALSO READ: Police Officer and Accomplice Sentenced for Trafficking Women to Oman
Tshuma, on her part, pleaded guilty to the charges and was remanded in custody pending sentencing today.
The unfolding narrative indicates that Tshuma, driving a white Toyota Aqua with registration number AFW6208, offered Hungwe a lift to the city center after spotting her at Gweru Provincial Hospital. Accompanied by two unidentified female passengers, Tshuma diverted the route, claiming she needed to drop off one of the women in Southview suburb.
Upon arriving at a residence in Southview, Tshuma requested Hungwe’s assistance in aiding one of the passengers to exit the vehicle, purportedly due to illness. Seizing the opportunity, Tshuma abruptly sped off towards the Gweru-Bulawayo Road, leaving Hungwe’s daughter behind in the vehicle along with the baby’s clothes and birth record.
Hungwe’s outcry for help prompted bystanders to note down the registration number of Tshuma’s car, leading to police intervention and subsequent arrest. The stolen baby, along with her belongings, was recovered shortly thereafter.
The case sheds light on the gravity of child abduction incidents and underscores the crucial role of public vigilance and swift law enforcement response in safeguarding vulnerable individuals from such heinous acts.
