Couple dumps children

A MUTARE couple, both ex-soldiers, left a Chikanga woman in a quandary after they allegedly "dumped" their two children at her residence in June before disappearing.

Agnella Rusakaniko (51) of House Number 2153, Chikanga Phase 2, who is a mother of 15, was left to bear the burden of two other children belonging to Linsy Moyo and Busisiwe Madeya.

The couple left the children aged eight and about 14 months old respectively in her custody on June 2, purportedly going to town and promised to take them back later on the same day.

In an interview, the visibly distressed Rusakaniko was accompanied by one of the couples' daughters, Tibello, who looked malnourished.

Rusakaniko, a mixed-farmer in Chigodora said the couple dumped the children with no clothes to change or anything to eat. She said the couple's cellphones became unreachable from the day they went away.

Continuous efforts by The Weekender to contact Moyo on his provided Telecel number were fruitless as it was not reachable.

"I used to go to Dangamvura where one of my children resides and that is when I met them since they were neighbours. The couple explained to me their sad predicament of being discharged from the army for various reasons and were struggling to make ends meet.

"They begged me to take care of their children for a few hours when they were going to town. They told me they were going to the bank to withdraw some money for rent because they had secured a new apartment. It was around 7am.

"I trusted them and believed they were coming back. I never saw them again. I love children, but I am now afraid because I don't know what they are up to," she said.

She said the couple seemingly pre-planned to dump the children.

She also believes that the couple turned their backs on their children because they do not want to take responsibility of caring for them because of their poor source of income.

"I realised that they had sold all their belongings and were planning to settle somewhere else without their children. They were very heartless because their children are still tender and still critically need parents' love, care and attention.

"They left nothing. No blankets, no clothes or even money! They don't even know how their children are surviving. I am, however, hopeful that they will come back one day. They possibly panicked owing to their sudden fall from grace. But they were supposed to be open to me," Rusakaniko said.

The eight-year-old Tibello described her dad as "irresponsible" and "uncaring".

"Ndaidzingwa chikoro because of school fees. And now I don't go to school. He used to beat me up. We were evicted from various houses because my dad wouldn't pay rentals. He also shouted at me, verbally abusing me" she said.

Legal expert, Ms Memory Mandingwa, said by dumping the children, the couple had violated the Children's Act.

"Baby dumping is a violation of the Children's Act. The woman should report the case to the police.

"The Ministry of Public Service and Social welfare is a safe haven for children under those circumstances," she said.

Deputy Manicaland provincial police spokesman, Assistant Inspector Luxson Chananda, concurred that the couple had a case to answer.

"Abandoning children to a stranger is abusing them. The children are subjected to suffering and torment.

"It is an offence to dump children under the Children's Act. The children are very tender and should be brought into safe homes like the social welfare.

"If the woman is not prepared to take care of the children, she should report the matter to the police and we will bring the culprits to book," said Asst Insp Chananda.