Married man kidnaps girlfriend and child

An outing turned into a harrowing ordeal after a married man allegedly kidnapped his girlfriend and her three-year-old child before assaulting her. Marvelous Baro (30) appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mark Dzira facing two counts of kidnapping. He pleaded not guilty and was denied bail, with his next court appearance scheduled for 8 September. He is being represented by Task Vhiki of Task Vhiki Attorneys.

Court proceedings revealed that on 4 August, Baro, his lover Nothabo Sibanda, her child, and relatives had gone out together. Upon returning to Sibanda’s Fourwinds home, she refused to accompany Baro to his Pumula South residence. Baro allegedly reacted violently, grabbing Sibanda by the throat, punching her in the face, and forcibly placing her and her child into his car.

During the drive, he allegedly assaulted her at intervals, causing her to bleed from the nose and mouth. Near Hillside Police Station, he purportedly continued the assault, stating he wanted to “teach her a lesson.” In a desperate escape, Sibanda reportedly forced the car door open and jumped out while it was still moving. Baro allegedly pursued her, but police officers responding to her screams intercepted and arrested him after a brief chase.