Stranger tricks mother, kidnaps 11-month-old baby

Panic and heartbreak have spread through the Budiriro suburb of Harare following the suspected abduction of an 11-month-old baby boy over the weekend, in a case that has left residents stunned and the family devastated.

The incident, which occurred on Saturday afternoon, involves a woman identified only by the name "Chihera," who was reportedly a familiar customer at the family's tuck shop. According to the baby's mother, Ms. Future Bonga, the woman had frequented the tuck shop over the past three months, but her real name and identity remain unknown.

"This lady used to buy from our tuck shop. I had known her for three months, but she never told me her name. I just called her 'Chihera,'" Bonga recounted. "On Saturday, she came in the morning and left her change. Later that day, she came to my house to collect it. I went to get the money and left her with my baby."

When Bonga returned, the woman requested to take the child for a short period, offering to babysit and return later. Bonga agreed, asking for the woman's phone number and directions to her home.

"I went to collect my baby around 5 PM, but at the address she gave me, no one knew her. Even the neighbours said they had never seen anyone by that name. That's when we realised something was wrong and reported the matter to the police," she said.

The child's father, Mr. Simbarashe Basira, said the disappearance has left the family in turmoil.

"I was shocked when I came home and found the baby missing. I didn't know this woman, and my wife explained that she was just a regular customer," he said. "We had trusted a stranger, and now our child is gone."

The baby's grandmother, Gogo Anna Basira, who was in Mutoko when the incident occurred, said the family is shattered by the loss.

"I am heartbroken. I had plans to take the child with me next month because his mother is expecting again. This is every parent's worst nightmare," she said.

Police have since launched an investigation into the matter. Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the incident and reiterated the importance of parental vigilance.

"We are investigating a case where an 11-month-old child was reportedly abducted by an unidentified woman who had befriended the mother over several months," Commissioner Nyathi said. "The suspect gave a false address and disappeared with the child. This is why we constantly warn the public against trusting strangers with their children, regardless of how familiar they may seem."

He added that authorities are working to identify the suspect and trace the child's whereabouts. The woman had allegedly mentioned to the mother in the past that she had never been able to conceive.

The police are appealing to members of the public who may have any information regarding the suspect or the missing child to come forward immediately. Anyone with leads is urged to contact their nearest police station.