Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Showbiz | Your Daily Dose of Zimbabwean Entertainment News & Celebrity BuzzShowbiz | Your Daily Dose of Zimbabwean Entertainment News & Celebrity Buzz

News

Woman Jailed for Trafficking Newborn from South Africa to Zimbabwe

A woman convicted of smuggling a two-day-old baby from South Africa to Zimbabwe for illegal adoption overseas has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Janet Marimo, who collaborated with the infant’s mother, Pauline Maganga, paid R25,000 to acquire the child with the intent of selling them abroad. However, her scheme was thwarted when authorities apprehended her in Harare.

Presiding over the case, Magistrate Donald Ndirowei imposed the sentence, highlighting that special circumstances justified reducing the standard 10-year prison term typically prescribed for such offenses.

ALSO READ:Machana’s CAS Appeal Raises Questions on Third-Party Interference in ZIFA Elections

“The court determined that the accused acted under a genuine but mistaken belief regarding adoption laws in both South Africa and Zimbabwe. Her lack of legal awareness and limited understanding were considered mitigating factors,” Magistrate Ndirowei stated.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

The court also took into account Maganga’s role in influencing Marimo to commit the crime.

Maganga, who received a 10-year prison sentence in May 2024, testified that she first connected with Marimo through a Facebook adoption group in March 2023.

As the administrator of the group, Marimo facilitated adoption discussions among its six members, which included individuals from Zimbabwe, South Africa, and the United States.

ABOUT US

 

ShowBiz Zimbabwe

Dive into the world of Zimbabwean entertainment with Showbiz! We deliver the latest news on your favorite celebrities, musicians, actors, and everything in between.

Email: editor@showbiz.co.zw

Advertisement

You May Also Like

Advertisement