Malayitsha kidnaps 3 year old baby

A BULAWAYO man based in South Africa allegedly kidnapped a three-year-old baby girl from its grandmother in Nkulumane after discovering the child was not his biological daughter.

Caleb Sibanda, a cross-border transporter, appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Maphios Moyo charged with kidnapping and assault.

Prosecutor Kingstone Mkanganwi said Sibanda ditched his wife in South Africa following a misunderstanding over the child and came to Zimbabwe intending to kidnap the girl.

"He found out that the baby he thought was his was another man's child. He could not believe it when his wife told him he was not the baby's biological father," Mkanganwi said.

"He then decided to come and kidnap the baby from the grandmother."

On Saturday, May 24, Sibanda reportedly stormed into Enellis Sibanda's house in Nkulumane and demanded the baby.

When the grandmother refused with the baby, Sibanda reportedly picked a stone and hit her on the head, causing her to fall down before he snatched the baby from her arms and ran away, the court heard.

He was however, caught by four men from the neighbourhood who rescued the baby and took Sibanda to the police, leading to his arrest.

Sibanda was remanded in custody to June 3.